martyrdom
/ˈmɑː(ɹ).tə(ɹ).dəm/
martyrdom means the condition of a martyr; the death or suffering of a martyr; the death or suffering on account of adherence to the Christian faith, or to any cause. It carries an Arena rating of 1515, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, martyrdom ranks #677 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #1,054 of 17,131 for Scariest Words, #1,431 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #2,511 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words.
martyrdom is pronounced /ˈmɑː(ɹ).tə(ɹ).dəm/.
Why “martyrdom” is a great word
The state of enduring suffering or death for one's beliefs. From Middle English martyrdome, from Old English martyrdōm, corresponding to martyr (from Late Latin martyr, from Greek mártys, "witness") + -dom (a suffix forming nouns denoting state or condition). Unlike "sacrifice," which emphasizes a voluntary offering, or "persecution," which names the act of inflicting harm, martyrdom is the status conferred by that infliction—the crown of thorns, the stake, the cell. It is the quiet blood on the stones of an amphitheater, the lingering smoke from a pyre, the whispered creed in the face of the blade, transforming a body's end into a testament.
Etymology
From Middle English martyrdome, martirdom, marterdom, from Old English martyrdōm (“martyrdom”), corresponding to martyr + -dom. Cognate with German Märtyrertum (“martyrdom”), Danish martyrdom (“martyrdom”), Swedish martyrdom (“martyrdom”), Norwegian martyrdom (“martyrdom”).
noun
- The condition of a martyr; the death or suffering of a martyr; the death or suffering on account of adherence to the Christian faith, or to any cause.
- Extreme suffering, affliction; torment; torture, especially without reason.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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