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mortifier

to mortify, to humiliate deeply

verb mor-tee-FYEH Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: From Latin 'mortificare' (to put to death, to subdue).

Usage Note

Mortifier in modern French primarily means to cause intense embarrassment or humiliation — cette remarque l'a mortifié ('that remark mortified him'). Its older religious sense of subduing bodily desires (mortifier la chair) survives in theological contexts. The adjective mortifiant(e) ('mortifying, humiliating') is commonly used in everyday speech.

Examples

"Cette erreur en public l'a profondément mortifié."

Natural Translation

That public mistake deeply mortified him.

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