martyr

Noun
  1. One who suffers for the sake of principle (synset 110316279)
    is a type of: victim - an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
    subtypes: shaheed - Arabic term for holy martyrs
    specific instances: tindal, tindale, tyndale, william tindal, william tindale, william tyndale - English translator and Protestant martyr; his translation of the Bible into English (which later formed the basis for the King James Version) aroused ecclesiastical opposition; he left England in 1524 and was burned at the stake in Antwerp as a heretic (1494-1536)
    same as: sufferer
  2. One who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty for refusing to renounce their religion (synset 110316493)
    is a type of: victim - an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
    subtypes: polycarp, saint polycarp, st. polycarp - Greek bishop of Smyrna who refused to recant his Christian faith and was burned to death by pagans (circa 69-155)
    specific instances:
    • becket, saint thomas a becket, st. thomas a becket, thomas a becket - (Roman Catholic Church) archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170; murdered following his opposition to Henry II's attempts to control the clergy (1118-1170)
    • george, saint george, st. george - Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
    • jeanne d'arc, joan of arc, saint joan - French heroine and military leader inspired by religious visions to organize French resistance to the English and to have Charles VII crowned king; she was later tried for heresy and burned at the stake (1412-1431)
    • laurentius, lawrence, saint lawrence, st. lawrence - Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
    • st. vitus, vitus - Christian martyr and patron of those who suffer from epilepsy and Sydenham's chorea (died around 300)
Verb
  1. Kill as a martyr (synset 201607942)
    "Saint Sebastian was martyred"
    is a type of: kill - cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
  2. Torture and torment like a martyr (synset 200071399)
    is a type of: excruciate, torment, torture - subject to torture
    same as: martyrise, martyrize

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