1. (n.) 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.

2. (n.) 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.

3. (v. t.) To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.

4. (v. t.) To persecute; to torment; to torture.

afflict agonize ail angel angel of light angel of love annihilate archangel beatified soul bereave of life bite bloody burn canonized mortal carry away carry off celestial chafe cherub cherubim chloroform claw convulse crucify cut cut down cut off deprive of life destroy dispatch dispose of distress do away with do for do to death end excruciate execute exterminate fester finish finish off fret gall give pain gnaw grate grind gripe harrow heavenly being hurt immolate impale inflame inflict pain irritate kill kill by inches lacerate lancinate launch into eternity liquidate lynch macerate make away with martyrize messenger of God nip object of compassion pain patron saint pierce pinch poison poor devil prey prick principality prolong the agony punish purge put away put down put to death put to sleep put to torture rack rankle rasp recording angel remove from life rip rub sacrifice saint savage saved soul scarify seraph seraphim slay soul in glory stab starve sting sufferer take life take off torment torture try tweak twist victim wound wretch wring