Mortification
from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
mortification
n 1: strong feelings of embarrassment [syn: {chagrin},
{humiliation}, {mortification}]
2: the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the
interruption of blood supply) [syn: {necrosis},
{mortification}, {gangrene}, {sphacelus}]
3: an instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or
self-respect; "he had to undergo one humiliation after
another" [syn: {humiliation}, {mortification}]
4: (Christianity) the act of mortifying the lusts of the flesh
by self-denial and privation (especially by bodily pain or
discomfort inflicted on yourself)
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mortification \Mor`ti*fi*ca"tion\, n. [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,
abstinence, or painful severities inflicted on the
body.
[1913 Webster]
The mortification of our lusts has something in
it that is troublesome, yet nothing that is
unreasonable. --Tillotson.
[1913 Webster]
2. Deep humiliation or shame, from a loss of pride; painful
embarassment, usually arising from exposure of a mistake;
chagrin; vexation.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
3. That which mortifies; the cause of humiliation, chagrin,
or vexation.
[1913 Webster]
It is one of the vexatious mortifications of a
studious man to have his thoughts discovered by a
tedious visit. --L'Estrange.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Scots Law) A gift to some charitable or religious
institution; -- nearly synonymous with {mortmain}.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Chagrin; vexation; shame. See {Chagrin}.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
96 Moby Thesaurus words for "mortification":
Albigensianism, Catharism, Day of Atonement, Franciscanism,
Sabbatarianism, Trappism, Waldensianism, Yoga, Yom Kippur,
abasement, abashment, abstinence, anchoritic monasticism,
anchoritism, asceticism, austerity, awkwardness, caries, carrion,
chagrin, cold purgatorial fires, comedown, confusion, debasement,
decay, decomposition, deflation, descent, discomfiture,
discomposure, disconcertedness, disconcertion, disconcertment,
discountenance, disgrace, distress, disturbance, dry gangrene,
dry rot, dump, embarrassment, eremitism, fasting, flagellation,
foulness, gangrene, gas gangrene, hair shirt, hangdog look,
humbled pride, humiliation, letdown, lustration, maceration,
mendicantism, moist gangrene, monachism, monasticism, necrosis,
necrotic tissue, noma, penance, penitence, penitential act,
penitential exercise, purgation, purgatory, puritanism, put-down,
putrefaction, putrescence, putridity, putridness, rancidity,
rancidness, rankness, repentance, rigor, rot, rottenness,
sackcloth and ashes, self-abasement, self-abnegation, self-denial,
self-diminishment, self-mortification, setdown, shame,
shamefacedness, shamefastness, slough, sphacelation, sphacelus,
spoilage, tooth decay, voluntary poverty
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