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Mortify   /mˈɔrtɪfˌaɪ/   Listen
verb
Mortify  v. t.  (past & past part. mortified; pres. part. mortifying)  
1.
To destroy the organic texture and vital functions of; to produce gangrene in.
2.
To destroy the active powers or essential qualities of; to change by chemical action. (Obs.) "Quicksilver is mortified with turpentine." "He mortified pearls in vinegar."
3.
To deaden by religious or other discipline, as the carnal affections, bodily appetites, or worldly desires; to bring into subjection; to abase; to humble; as, to mortify the flesh. "With fasting mortified, worn out with tears." "Mortify thy learned lust." "Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth."
4.
To affect with vexation, chagrin; to depress. "The news of the fatal battle of Worcester, which exceedingly mortified our expectations." "How often is the ambitious man mortified with the very praises he receives, if they do not rise so high as he thinks they ought!"
5.
To humiliate deeply, especially by injuring the pride of; to embarrass painfully; to humble; as, the team was mortified to lose by 45 to 0.



Mortify  v. i.  
1.
To lose vitality and organic structure, as flesh of a living body; to gangrene.
2.
To practice penance from religious motives; to deaden desires by religious discipline. "This makes him... give alms of all that he hath, watch, fast, and mortify."
3.
To be subdued; to decay, as appetites, desires, etc.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Mortify" Quotes from Famous Books



... is your misfortune, Mr. Lovelace, as well as mine, at present. Every woman of discernment, I say as I say, [I had a mind to mortify a pride, that I am sure deserves to be mortified;] that your politeness is not regular, nor constant. It is not habit. It is too much seen by fits and starts, and sallies, and those not spontaneous. You must be reminded ...
— Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9) • Samuel Richardson

... want to hear it!" roared Henchard. "To-morrow the waggons must start at four, and if you're not here, stand clear. I'll mortify thy flesh for thee!" ...
— The Mayor of Casterbridge • Thomas Hardy

... expecting to dinner with me several friends, whom I had invited three days before. I sent apologies to them, as in a case of life and death; and speeded to town to the woman's: for how knew I but shocking attempts might be made upon her by the cursed wretches: perhaps by your connivance, in order to mortify ...
— Clarissa, Volume 7 • Samuel Richardson

... there, on the octave of St. Martin, when I was going to Communion, the Father, Fr. John of the Cross, [16]—divided the Host between me and another sister. I thought it was done, not because there was any want of Hosts, but that he wished to mortify me because I had told him how much I delighted in Hosts of a large size. Yet I was not ignorant that the size of the Host is of no moment; for I knew that our Lord is whole and entire in the smallest particle. His Majesty said to me: "Have no fear, My daughter; for no one will be ...
— The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus • Teresa of Avila

... should irritate her poet He divined this, and his hatred and jealousy of the child increased. And when the early letters of Ron-die contained complaints of Jack, he was very much delighted. But this was not enough. He wished to mortify and degrade the boy still more. His hour had come. At the first words of the letter, for he finally opened it, his eyes flamed with malicious joy. "Ah! I knew it!" he cried, and he handed the sheet ...
— Jack - 1877 • Alphonse Daudet


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