mortify

Where does the word "mortify" come from? It comes from Latin mortificare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Mortify’s story begins in Latin: mortificare meant “to cause death, to subdue.” To cause death, to subdue, from mors (death) and facere (to make). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as mortifier. Carried into French for subduing the body or causing deep shame. It reached English by 1300s as mortify. Settled as the English word for causing someone deep embarrassment. Today, mortify means to cause someone to feel deep embarrassment or shame.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mortificare "to cause death, to subdue", to cause death, to subdue, from mors (death) and facere (to make).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval mortifier "to subdue, to cause deep shame", carried into French for subduing the body or causing deep shame.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s mortify "to cause someone deep embarrassment or shame", settled as the English word for causing someone deep embarrassment.