MORTIFICATION

mortification

(noun) (Christianity) the act of mortifying the lusts of the flesh by self-denial and privation (especially by bodily pain or discomfort inflicted on yourself)

humiliation, mortification

(noun) an instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect; “he had to undergo one humiliation after another”

chagrin, humiliation, mortification

(noun) strong feelings of embarrassment

necrosis, mortification, gangrene, sphacelus

(noun) the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

mortification (countable and uncountable, plural mortifications)

The act of mortifying.

A sensation of extreme shame or embarrassment.

(medicine) The death of part of the body.

A bringing under of the passions and appetites by a severe or strict manner of living.

(legal, Scotland) A bequest to a charitable institution.

Synonyms

• (a sensation of extreme shame): shame, humiliation

Antonyms

• (a sensation of extreme shame): honor, exaltation

Source: Wiktionary


Mor`ti*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. mortificatio a killing. See Mortify.]

1. The act of mortifying, or the condition of being mortified; especially: (a) (Med.) The death of one part of an animal body, while the rest continues to live; loss of vitality in some part of a living animal; gangrene. Dunglison. (b) (Alchem. & Old Chem.) Destruction of active qualities; neutralization. [Obs.] Bacon. (c) Subjection of the passions and appetites, by penance, absistence, or painful severities inflicted on the body. The mortification of our lusts has something in it that is troublesome, yet nothing that is unreasonable. Tillotson.

(d) Hence: Deprivation or depression of self-approval; abatement or pride; humiliation; chagrin; vexation. We had the mortification to lose sight of Munich, Augsburg, and Ratisbon. Addison.

2. That which mortifies; the cause of humiliation, chagrin, or vexation. It is one of the vexatious mortifications of a studious man to have his thoughts discovered by a tedious visit. L'Estrange.

3. (Scots Law)

Definition: A gift to some charitable or religious institution; -- nearly synonymous with mortmain.

Syn.

– Chagrin; vexation; shame. See Chagrin.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

19 January 2025

ELOQUENCE

(noun) powerful and effective language; “his eloquence attracted a large congregation”; “fluency in spoken and written English is essential”; “his oily smoothness concealed his guilt from the police”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest iced coffee is 14,228.1 liters and was created by Caffé Bene (South Korea), in Yangju, South Korea, on 17 July 2014. They poured iced black Americano on the giant cup that measured 3.3 meters tall and 2.62 meters wide.

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