English
martyr
Martyr comes from Ecclesiastical Latin martyr ‘martyr, especially a Christian martyr’, from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ ‘Aeolic form of μᾰ́ρτῠς (mắrtŭs)’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mer- ‘to fall into thinking, remember, care for’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)mer-‘to fall into thinking, remember, care for’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμάρτυςmártus‘witness’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμάρτυρmártur‘Aeolic form of μᾰ́ρτῠς (mắrtŭs)’later form of μάρτυς
- Ecclesiastical Latinc. 200–1500martyr‘martyr, especially a Christian martyr’
- Old Englishc. 450–1150same form
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500martir
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1588–1593martyr
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)mer-‘to fall into thinking, remember, care for’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEμάρτυςmártus‘witness’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEμάρτυρmártur‘Aeolic form of μᾰ́ρτῠς (mắrtŭs)’later form of μάρτυς
- Ecclesiastical Latinc. 200–1500martyr‘martyr, especially a Christian martyr’
- Old Englishc. 450–1150same form
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500martir
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1588–1593martyr
Earliest quotation: c. 1588–1593, William Shakespeare, The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus: “Hark, wretches, how I mean to martyr you. This…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *(s)mer- ‘to fall into thinking, remember, care for’
memory, merit, memorable, memoir, memorandum, mourn, memorabilia, mer, mora, memoria, 15 more
Today it means
noun One who willingly accepts being put to death or willingly accepts challenging and exposing iniquity done to oneself for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after red martyrdom.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)mer- / martyr