Mortification (Noun)
Meaning 1
(Christianity) the act of mortifying the lusts of the flesh by self-denial and privation (especially by bodily pain or discomfort inflicted on yourself).
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- Through prayer and fasting, the monk practiced mortification, seeking to subdue his worldly desires and draw closer to God.
- The Catholic saint wore a hair shirt as a form of mortification, renouncing comfort and embracing physical discomfort for the sake of spiritual growth.
- By denying himself the pleasures of the flesh, the devout Christian hoped to achieve a state of mortification, freeing his soul from the bondage of sin.
- The practice of mortification was seen as a means of purifying the soul, allowing the faithful to focus on their spiritual pursuits unencumbered by worldly desires.
- Through rigorous self-discipline and mortification, the ascetic sought to transcend the limitations of the human body and attain a higher state of spiritual consciousness.
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Meaning 2
Strong feelings of embarrassment.
Classification
Nouns denoting feelings and emotions.
Examples
- She felt intense mortification as she realized she had accidentally sent the text meant for her sister to her entire office group chat.
- His public breakup with his girlfriend left him with searing mortification as he walked out of the restaurant to a crowd of onlookers.
- The teenager's mortification was palpable as she stood up in class, only to realize she was wearing her shirt inside out.
- Lena's eyes widened in mortification as she tripped on the stairs, spilling coffee all over her new white shirt in front of her crush.
- The politician's reputation was ruined by the leaked video, causing him immense mortification and forcing him to resign from office.
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Meaning 3
An instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect; "he had to undergo one humiliation after another".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- Her ex-boyfriend posting their intimate photos online was a huge mortification for her.
- The politician's downfall was a mortification for his party.
- Losing the championship game in front of a home crowd was a mortification for the team.
- Being stood up on her wedding day was a mortification for the bride.
- Going bankrupt and losing his business was a bitter mortification for the entrepreneur.
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Meaning 4
The localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply).
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- The surgeon warned that the prolonged blockage of the artery could lead to mortification of the surrounding tissue.
- Gangrene had set in, causing mortification of the toe and necessitating its amputation.
- The lack of oxygen caused mortification of the cells in the tumor, slowing its growth.
- Infection had caused mortification of the skin around the wound, leading to its disfiguring scarring.
- The mortification of the muscle tissue in her leg made it difficult for her to walk or bear weight.