1. [n]  one who suffers for the sake of principle
2. [n]  one who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty for refusing to renounce their religion
3. [v]  make into a martyr
4. [v]  kill as a martyr; "Saint Sebastian was martyred"

1. \Mar"tyr\, n. [AS., from L. martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys,
   prop., a witness; cf. Skr. sm[.r] to remember, E. memory.]
   1. One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the
      gospel; one who is put to death for his religion; as,
      Stephen was the first Christian martyr. --Chaucer.
   
            To be a martyr, signifies only to witness the truth
            of Christ; but the witnessing of the truth was then
            so generally attended with persecution, that
            martyrdom now signifies not only to witness, but to
            witness by death                      --South.
   
   2. Hence, one who sacrifices his life, his station, or what
      is of great value to him, for the sake of principle, or to
      sustain a cause.
   
            Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell, Thou fall'st a
            blessed martyr !                      --Shak.
   
   

2. \Mar"tyr\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Martyred}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Martyring}.]
   1. To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp.
      Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or
      profession. --Bp. Pearson.
   
   2. To persecute; to torment; to torture. --Chaucer.
   
            The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart Thou martyrest
            with sorrow and with smart.           --Spenser.
   
            Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone.
                                                  --Pope.
   
   

one who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ (Acts 22:20; Rev. 2:13; 17:6). In this sense Stephen was the first martyr. The Greek word so rendered in all other cases is translated "witness." (1.) In a court of justice (Matt. 18:16; 26:65; Acts 6:13; 7:58; Heb. 10:28; 1 Tim. 5:19). (2.) As of one bearing testimony to the truth of what he has seen or known (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8, 22; Rom. 1:9; 1 Thess. 2:5, 10; 1 John 1:2).