Crucify definition | Dictionary.com

cru⋅ci⋅fy

[kroo-suh-fahy]

–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.

1.	to put to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross.

2.	to treat with gross injustice; persecute; torment; torture.

3.	to subdue (passion, sin, etc.).

Origin:
ME crucifien < AF, OF crucifier < L crucifīgere, equiv. to L cruci- (s. of crux) cross + fīgere to fix, bind fast

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Crucify

Spanish:

crucificar,

German:

kreuzigen,

Japanese:

十字架にかける

View 30 other languages »

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cru·ci·fy (krōō'sə-fī') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. cru·ci·fied, cru·ci·fy·ing, cru·ci·fies

To put (a person) to death by nailing or binding to a cross.
To mortify or subdue (the flesh).
To treat cruelly; torment: crucified the awkward child with teasing.
To criticize harshly; pillory: The media crucified the politician for breaking a campaign pledge.

[Middle English crucifien, from Old French crucifier, alteration of Latin crucifīgere : crux, cruc-, cross + fīgere, to attach; see dhīg^w- in Indo-European roots.]
cru'ci·fi'er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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crucify

c.1300, from O.Fr. crucifer, from V.L. *crucificare, from L.L. crucifigere "to fasten to a cross," from cruci, dat. of L. crux "cross" + figere "fasten" (see fix). An ancient mode of capital punishment considered especially ignominious by the Romans.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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crucify
verb
1.	kill by nailing onto a cross; "Jesus Christ was crucified"
2.	treat cruelly; "The children tormented the stuttering teacher" [syn: torment]
3.	hold within limits and control; "subdue one's appetites"; "mortify the flesh" [syn: mortify]
4.	criticize harshly or violently; "The press savaged the new President"; "The critics crucified the author for plagiarizing a famous passage" [syn: savage]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Crucify

Cru"ci*fy\ (-f?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crucified (-f?d); p. pr. & vb. n. Crucifying.] [F. crucifier, fr. (assumed) LL. crucificare, for crucifigere, fr, L. crux, crucis, cross + figere to fix, the ending -figere being changed to -ficare, F. -fier (in compounds), as if fr. L. facere to do, make. See Cross, and Fix, and cf. Crucifix.]

1. To fasten to a cross; to put to death by nailing the hands and feet to a cross or gibbet.

They cried, saying, Crucify him, cricify him. --Luke xxiii. 21.

2. To destroy the power or ruling influence of; to subdue completely; to mortify.

They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. --Gal. v. 24.

3. To vex or torment. --Beau. & FL.