mortify

/ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ/

//ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"mortify" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mortify” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To discipline (one's body, appetites etc.) by suppressing desires; to practise abstinence on.

Corpus desk

Index EN-mortify · mortify · English

mortify · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "M" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for mortify
PropertyValue
Headwordmortify
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “mortify” in English

mortifyfalls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

mortify is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 12 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for mortify, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Anglo-Norman mortifier, Middle French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificō (“cause death”), from Latin mors (“death”) + -ficō (“-fy”). The correct English form is mortify, spelled M-O-R-T-I-F-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    To discipline (one's body, appetites etc.) by suppressing desires; to practise abstinence on.
  2. 2
    To injure the dignity of; to embarrass; to humiliate.
  3. 3
    To kill.
  4. 4
    To reduce the potency of; to nullify; to deaden, neutralize.
  5. 5
    To affect with vexation or chagrin.
  6. 6
    To scare.
  7. 7
    To humble; to depress.
  8. 8
    To grant in mortmain.
  9. 9
    To lose vitality.
  10. 10
    To kill off (living tissue etc.); to make necrotic.
  11. 11
    To gangrene.
  12. 12
    To be subdued.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how mortify appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Some people seek sainthood by mortifying the body.
  2. With fasting mortify'd, worn out with tears.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman mortifier, Middle French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificō (“cause death”), from Latin mors (“death”) + -ficō (“-fy”).

This word in other languages

mortificar(Español)mortifier(Français)abtöten(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "mortify"?
"mortify" is spelled M-O-R-T-I-F-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ/.
What does "mortify" mean?
As a verb, "mortify" means: To discipline (one's body, appetites etc.) by suppressing desires; to practise abstinence on.
How do you pronounce "mortify"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mortify" is /ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "mortify"?
From Anglo-Norman mortifier, Middle French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificō (“cause death”), from Latin mors (“death”) + -ficō (“-fy”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list