MORTIFICATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does mortification mean? 

• MORTIFICATION (noun)
  The noun MORTIFICATION has 4 senses:

1. strong feelings of embarrassment

2. the localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)

3. an instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect

4. (Christianity) the act of mortifying the lusts of the flesh by self-denial and privation (especially by bodily pain or discomfort inflicted on yourself)

  Familiarity information: MORTIFICATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MORTIFICATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Strong feelings of embarrassment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

chagrin; humiliation; mortification

Hypernyms ("mortification" is a kind of...):

embarrassment (the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public)

Derivation:

mortify (cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The localized death of living cells (as from infection or the interruption of blood supply)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

gangrene; mortification; necrosis; sphacelus

Hypernyms ("mortification" is a kind of...):

death (the permanent end of all life functions in an organism or part of an organism)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mortification"):

myonecrosis (localized death of muscle cell fibers)

Derivation:

mortify (undergo necrosis)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

humiliation; mortification

Context example:

he had to undergo one humiliation after another

Hypernyms ("mortification" is a kind of...):

case; example; instance (an occurrence of something)

Derivation:

mortify (cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(Christianity) the act of mortifying the lusts of the flesh by self-denial and privation (especially by bodily pain or discomfort inflicted on yourself)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("mortification" is a kind of...):

self-control; self-denial; self-discipline (the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses)

Domain category:

Christian religion; Christianity (a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior)

Derivation:

mortify (hold within limits and control)

mortify (practice self-denial of one's body and appetites)

 Context examples 

For the present, he could not be spared, to his “very great mortification and regret; but still he looked forward with the hope of coming to Randalls at no distant period.”

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Martin was bewildered by the tears of mortification he saw in her eyes.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

She had soon the mortification of seeing Mr Elliot withdraw, and no one of proper condition has since presented himself to raise even the unfounded hopes which sunk with him.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Elinor, Elinor, they who suffer little may be proud and independent as they like—may resist insult, or return mortification—but I cannot.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The Brabanter stamped his foot with mortification, and was about to make some angry reply, when Alleyne Edricson came riding up to the crowds of archers.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Catherine, in deep mortification, proceeded on her way.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Miss Crawford was silenced, and with some feelings of resentment and mortification, moved her chair considerably nearer the tea-table, and gave all her attention to Mrs. Norris, who was presiding there.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The first two dances, however, brought a return of distress; they were dances of mortification.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

She was proud, and her pride was useful just then, for it helped her hide her mortification, anger, and disgust at what she had just heard.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He was a coward, from head to foot; and showed his dastardly nature through his sullenness and mortification, as much as at any time of his mean life.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)