crucify
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Etymology
From Middle English crucifien, from Old French crucefier, from Late Latin crucificō, from Latin crucifigō.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkɹuːsɪfaɪ/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - Rhymes: -aɪ
Verb
crucify (third-person singular simple present crucifies, present participle crucifying, simple past and past participle crucified) (transitive)
- To execute (a person) by nailing to a cross.
- (hyperbolic) To punish or otherwise express extreme anger at, especially as a scapegoat or target of outrage.
- After his public gaffe, he was crucified in the media.
- 1896 July 9, William Jennings Bryan, Cross of Gold speech:
- Having behind us the commercial interests and the laboring interests and all the toiling masses, we shall answer their demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.
- (hyperbolic, informal, sports) To thoroughly beat at a sport or game.
- West Ham beat Manchester City five nil–they crucified them!
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
to execute a person by nailing to a cross
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
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