Martyr
Martyr , noun
[Anglo-Saxon, from Latin martyr, Greek ma`rtyr, ma`rtys, prop., a witness; compare Sanskrit smr to remember, English memory.]
1.
One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the gospel; one who is put to death for his religion; as, Stephen was the first Christian martyr. — Chaucer
To be a martyr, signifies only to witness the truth of Christ; but the witnessing of the truth was then so generally attended with persecution, that martyrdom now signifies not only to witness, but to witness by death.
2.
Hence, one who sacrifices his life, his station, or what is of great value to him, for the sake of principle, or to sustain a cause.
Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell,
Thou fall'st a blessed martyr!
Martyr , transitive verb
1.
To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession. — Bp. Pearson
2.
To persecute; to torment; to torture. — Chaucer
The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart
Thou martyrest with sorrow and with smart.
Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone.