martyr:
(plural: ‘martyrs‘; pronunciation: the letters ‘ma’ rhyme with the word “my” in American English, and the letters ‘ma’ in “mart’ in British English — for the different ways of pronouncing this word, please click here)
a Christian martyr being tortured in the past
(as a noun) a person who chooses to suffer or even die but does not give up their beliefs, causes or principles, usually religious beliefs;
a person who suffers a lot for the good of others;
a person who suffers or pretends to be suffering to get sympathy from others;
a person who suffers physically from poor health or poverty;
a person who gives up his own wishes, comforts or chance of getting something great or who accepts something unpleasant in order to make others happy,
a Palestinian killed in the fight with Israelis being glorified as a martyr
In Arabic a martyr is termed ‘shahid’ which means “witness”, and is mostly attributed to anyone who dies or is killed for a religious cause.
Joan of Arc was the 15th century French patriot and martyr who was burnt at stake by the English on charges of heresy and sorcery.
Those Palestinians who die fighting against Israelis are glorified as ‘martyrs’!
My friend is a martyr to asthma.
