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mortification

mor·ti·fi·ca·tion [ màwrtəfi káysh'n ] (plural mor·ti·fi·ca·tions)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. shame: deep shame and humiliation

2. something causing mortification: something that causes a feeling of deep shame and humiliation

3. religion self-imposed hardship: the use of self-imposed discipline, hardship, abstinence from pleasure, and especially self-inflicted pain in an attempt to control or put an end to desires and passions, especially for religious purposes

4. medicine death and decay of living tissue: the death and decaying of a part of a living body, e.g. because the blood supply to it has been cut off

[14th century. Directly or via French< late Latin mortificatio(n-) "destruction" < Latin mortificat- past participle of mortificare (see mortify)]
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