Percy Smith.
Martite
(Mar"tite) n. [L. Mars, Martis, the god Mars, the alchemical name of iron.] (Min.) Iron sesquioxide
in isometric form, probably a pseudomorph after magnetite.
Martlemas
(Mar"tle*mas) n. See Martinmas. [Obs.]
Martlet
(Mart"let) n. [F. martinet. See Martin the bird, and cf. Martinet a disciplinarian.]
1. (Zoöl.) The European house martin.
2. [Cf. F. merlette.] (Her.) A bird without beak or feet; — generally assumed to represent a martin.
As a mark of cadency it denotes the fourth son.
Martyr
(Mar"tyr) n. [AS., from L. martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys, prop., a witness; cf. Skr. sm&rsdot to
remember, E. 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.
South. 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 !
Shak. Martyr
(Mar"tyr) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Martyred ; p. pr. & vb. n. Martyring.]
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.
Spenser.
Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone.
Pope. Martyrdom
(Mar"tyr*dom) n. [Martyr + -dom.]
1. 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. Bacon.
I came from martyrdom unto this peace.
Longfellow. 2. Affliction; torment; torture. Chaucer.
Martyrization
(Mar`tyr*i*za"tion) n. Act of martyrizing, or state of being martyrized; torture. B. Jonson.
Martyrize
(Mar"tyr*ize) v. t. [Cf. F. martyriser, LL. martyrizare.] To make a martyr of. Spenser.
