martyr

noun mahr-TEER Rare

Origin: Greek martys (witness)

Usage Note

martyr is used both in its religious sense (someone who dies for their faith) and figuratively for someone who suffers unnecessarily or plays the victim — faire le martyr ('to play the martyr'). The feminine form is une martyre. The abstract noun martyre (same spelling, feminine) means 'martyrdom' or great suffering.

Examples

"Il se comporte comme un martyr."

Natural Translation

He behaves like a martyr.

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