MORTIFY (mortified)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: mortified   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mortify mean? 

• MORTIFY (verb)
  The verb MORTIFY has 4 senses:

1. practice self-denial of one's body and appetites

2. hold within limits and control

3. cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

4. undergo necrosis

  Familiarity information: MORTIFY used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MORTIFY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they mortify    ... he / she / it mortifies   
Past simple: mortified   
Past participle: mortified   
-ing form: mortifying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Practice self-denial of one's body and appetites

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "mortify" is one way to...):

crucify; mortify; subdue (hold within limits and control)

check; condition; discipline; train (develop (a child's or animal's) behavior by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

mortification ((Christianity) the act of mortifying the lusts of the flesh by self-denial and privation (especially by bodily pain or discomfort inflicted on yourself))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Hold within limits and control

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

crucify; mortify; subdue

Context example:

mortify the flesh

Hypernyms (to "mortify" is one way to...):

check; contain; control; curb; hold; hold in; moderate (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits)

"Mortify" entails doing...:

abstain; desist; refrain (choose not to consume)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mortify"):

mortify (practice self-denial of one's body and appetites)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

mortification ((Christianity) the act of mortifying the lusts of the flesh by self-denial and privation (especially by bodily pain or discomfort inflicted on yourself))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

abase; chagrin; humble; humiliate; mortify

Context example:

He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss

Hypernyms (to "mortify" is one way to...):

bruise; hurt; injure; offend; spite; wound (hurt the feelings of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mortify"):

crush; smash (humiliate or depress completely)

degrade; demean; disgrace; put down; take down (reduce in worth or character, usually verbally)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to mortify Sue

Derivation:

mortification (an instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect)

mortification (strong feelings of embarrassment)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Undergo necrosis

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

gangrene; mortify; necrose; sphacelate

Context example:

the tissue around the wound necrosed

Hypernyms (to "mortify" is one way to...):

rot; waste (become physically weaker)

Sentence frame:

Somebody's (body part) ----s

Derivation:

mortification (the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply))

 Context examples 

“Udolpho was written by Mrs. Radcliffe,” said Catherine, with some hesitation, from the fear of mortifying him.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

It would be mortifying her severely.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It is, in fact, a most mortifying retrospect for me.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

How mortifying to feel that it was so!

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I have studied how best to mortify in them the worldly sentiment of pride; and, only the other day, I had a pleasing proof of my success.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It is for this that these men mortify their flesh, and to set us an example, who would pamper ourselves overmuch.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it; and it may be doubted if, from that day forth, Utterson desired the society of his surviving friend with the same eagerness.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I ought to have read more, for I find I don't know anything, and it mortifies me.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

They were the most mortifying sight I ever beheld; and the women more horrible than the men.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)