crucify
verb/ˈkɹuːsɪfaɪ/
Etymology From Middle English crucifien, from Old French crucefier, from Late Latin crucificō, from Latin crucifigō.
1
To execute (a person) by nailing to a cross.
2
Excessive To punish or otherwise express extreme anger at, especially as a scapegoat or target of outrage.
- After his public gaffe, he was crucified in the media.
- Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.1896 July 9, William Jennings Bryan, Cross of Gold speech
1 more example
- I crucify myself, nothing I do is good enough for you / I crucify myself every day1992, Tori Amos, “Crucify”:
- West Ham beat Manchester City five nil–they crucified them!
- Derived terms
- crucifiable, decrucify, recrucify
- Related terms
- cross, crucifix, crucifixion, crucifixional, crux