Greek for "witness," the standard legal term for observers at the execution of economic transactions, legal affairs, and everyday events The term came to have the specialized meaning of "one who testifies to the faith" in Jewish and Christian circles during the persecutions of 200 B C E -200 C E (the period when apocalyptic literature flourished)
A martyr is someone who has died for what he or she believes The first Christian martyr was Stephen
a person who decides to suffer and/or die rather than give up his or her faith or principles
One who takes action according to his religious beliefs accepting that he will be killed by others; one who is put to death for his religion; as, Stephen was the first Christian martyr
If you say that someone is a martyr to something, you mean that they suffer as a result of it. Ellsworth was a martyr to his sense of honour and responsibility see also martyred. if someone is martyred, they are killed because of their religious beliefs. Person who voluntarily suffers death rather than deny his or her religion. Readiness for martyrdom was a collective ideal in ancient Judaism, notably in the era of the Maccabees, and its importance has continued into modern times. Roman Catholicism sees the suffering of martyrs as a test of their faith. Many saints of the early church underwent martyrdom during the persecutions of the Roman emperors. Martyrs need not perform miracles to be canonized. In Islam, martyrs are thought to comprise two groups of the faithful: those killed in jihad and those killed unjustly. In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is regarded as a martyr because he voluntarily postpones enlightenment to alleviate the suffering of others
If someone is martyred, they are killed or made to suffer greatly because of their religious or political beliefs. St Pancras was martyred in 304 AD. whether its martyred leader is released or not
A martyr is someone who is killed or made to suffer greatly because of their religious or political beliefs, and is admired and respected by people who share those beliefs. a glorious martyr to the cause of liberty. a Christian martyr
A "witness" for Christ who prefers to die rather than relinquish his faith Stephen, at whose stoning Saul of Tarsus assisted, is known as the first Christian martyr (Acts 22: 20; Rev 2: 13; 17: 6)