Etymology From Middle English martir, from Old English martyr, itself a borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin martyr, from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ (mártur), later form of μάρτυς (mártus, “witness”).
1
One who willingly accepts being put to death or willingly accepts challenging and exposing iniquity done to oneself for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after red martyrdom.
The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
Fr. Felipe Císcar Puig was a Valencian priest who is also also considered a martyr of the sacramental seal because he was martyred after keeping confessions secret during the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War.2017 December 16, “These priests were martyred for refusing to violate the seal of confession”, in Catholic News Agency:
2
Broadly One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
3
One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.
With a prepositional phrase of cause
Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris is a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.
He'd been a martyr to asthma all his life.1937, AJ Cronin, The Citadel:
1 more example
J.Q. Murder wears sandpaper suits Broken glass in pocket, barbed wire boots Not because he's mean, but because he's a martyr He makes Jackie Collins look like Jean-Paul Sartre1982, J. G. Thirlwell, “J.Q. Murder”, in Ache, performed by You've Got Foetus on Your Breath:
4
Derogatory Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.
You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr!
Etymology From Middle English martir, from Old English martyr, itself a borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin martyr, from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ (mártur), later form of μάρτυς (mártus, “witness”).
1
To make someone into a martyr by putting them to death for adhering to, or acting in accordance with, some belief, especially religious; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
Fr. Felipe Císcar Puig was a Valencian priest who is also also considered a martyr of the sacramental seal because he was martyred after keeping confessions secret during the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War.2017 December 16, “These priests were martyred for refusing to violate the seal of confession”, in Catholic News Agency:
2
To persecute.
Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction.
3
To torment; to torture.
Hark, wretches, how I mean to martyr you. This one hand yet is left to cut your throats, Whiles that Lavinia ’tween her stumps doth hold The basin that receives your guilty blood.c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
[…]The louely Amoret, whoſe gentle hart Thou martyreſt with ſorow and with ſmart,[…]1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IIII, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 2, page 94: