mortify
Translation
to mortify, to humiliate, to embarrass
Examples
She was mortified by her son's rude behaviour.
She was mortified by her son's rude behaviour.
His clumsy comment mortified the whole family.
His clumsy comment mortified the whole family.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.)) to make (sb.) feel very embarrassed His comment mortified her.
((to be mortified by sth.)) to feel very embarrassed by (sth.) She was mortified by his behaviour.
((to be mortified to do sth.)) to be embarrassed to do (sth.) I was mortified to find I had forgotten her name.
Similar Words
Synonyms: embarrass, humiliate, shame
Etymology
From Latin 'mors' (death) + 'facere' (to make). Literally 'to make dead', it came to mean causing extreme embarrassment, as if one could 'die of shame'.
Memory Tips
Connects to 'mort' (death). To be mortified is to feel like you could 'die' of embarrassment.