Adjacent Words

Mortifying definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MOR'TIFYING, ppr. Changing from soundness to gangrene or sphacelus.
1. Subduing; humbling; restraining.
2. a. Humiliating; tending to humble or abase.
He met with a mortifying repulse.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: causing to feel shame or chagrin or vexation; "the embarrassing moment when she found her petticoat down around her ankles"; "it was mortifying to know he had heard every word" [syn: embarrassing, mortifying]
2: causing awareness of your shortcomings; "golf is a humbling game" [syn: demeaning, humbling, humiliating, mortifying]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mortify Mor"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mortified; p. pr. & vb. n. Mortifying.] [OE. mortifien, F. mortifier, fr. L. mortificare; L. mors, mortis, death + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Mortal, and -fy.] 1. To destroy the organic texture and vital functions of; to produce gangrene in. 2. To destroy the active powers or essential qualities of; to change by chemical action. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Quicksilver is mortified with turpentine. --Bacon. He mortified pearls in vinegar. --Hakewill. 3. To deaden by religious or other discipline, as the carnal affections, bodily appetites, or worldly desires; to bring into subjection; to abase; to humble. With fasting mortified, worn out with tears. --Harte. Mortify thy learned lust. --Prior. Mortify, rherefore, your members which are upon the earth. --Col. iii. 5. 4. To affect with vexation, chagrin, or humiliation; to humble; to depress. The news of the fatal battle of Worcester, which exceedingly mortified our expectations. --Evelyn. How often is the ambitious man mortified with the very praises he receives, if they do not rise so high as he thinks they ought! --Addison.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mortifying Mor"ti*fy`ing, a. 1. Tending to mortify; affected by, or having symptoms of, mortification; as, a mortifying wound; mortifying flesh. 2. Subduing the appetites, desires, etc.; as, mortifying penances. 3. Tending to humble or abase; humiliating; as, a mortifying repulse.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If you say that something is mortifying, you mean that it makes you feel extremely ashamed or embarrassed. She felt it would be utterly mortifying to be seen in such company as his by anyone. ADJ