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crucify

 - 3 dictionary results

cru⋅ci⋅fy

  [kroo-suh-fahy]
Use crucify in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
cru⋅ci⋅fi⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To crucify
cru·ci·fy   (krōō'sə-fī')   
tr.v.   cru·ci·fied, cru·ci·fy·ing, cru·ci·fies

  1. To put (a person) to death by nailing or binding to a cross.

  2. To mortify or subdue (the flesh).

  3. To treat cruelly; torment: crucified the awkward child with teasing.

  4. 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 dhīgw- in Indo-European roots.]
cru'ci·fi'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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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