Part 6856

<hw>Mart"let</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>martinet</ets>. See <er>Martin</er> the bird, and cf. <er>Martinet</er> a disciplinarian.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The European house martin.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>merlette</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>A bird without beak or feet; -- generally assumed to represent a <i>martin</i>. As a mark of cadency it denotes the fourth son.</def>

<h1>Martyr</h1> <Xpage=898>

<hw>Mar"tyr</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[AS., from L. <ets>martyr</ets>, Gr. <grk>ma`rtyr</grk>, <grk>ma`rtys</grk>, prop., a witness; cf. Skr. <ets>sm&rsdot;</ets> to remember, E. <ets>memory</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the gospel; one who is put to death for his religion; <as>as, Stephen was the first Christian <ex>martyr</ex></as>.</def>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<blockquote>To be a <b>martyr</b>, 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 <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell, Thou fall'st a blessed <b>martyr</b> ! <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Martyr</h1> <Xpage=898>

<hw>Mar"tyr</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Martyred</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Martyring</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.</def>

<i>Bp. Pearson.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To persecute; to torment; to torture.</def>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<blockquote>The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart Thou <b>martyrest</b> with sorrow and with smart. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Racked with sciatics, <b>martyred</b> with the stone. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Martyrdom</h1> <Xpage=898>

<hw>Mar"tyr*dom</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[<ets>Martyr</ets> + <ets>-dom</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The condition of a martyr; the death of a martyr; the suffering of death on account of adherence to the Christian faith, or to any cause.</def>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<blockquote>I came from <b>martyrdom</b> unto this peace. <i>Longfellow.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Affliction; torment; torture.</def>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<h1>Martyrization</h1> <Xpage=898>

<hw>Mar`tyr*i*za"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Act of martyrizing, or state of being martyrized; torture.</def>

<i>B. Jonson.</i>

<h1>Martyrize</h1> <Xpage=898>