crucify
oxford
views updated May 29 2018cru·ci·fy / ˈkroōsəˌfī/ •
v. (-fies, -fied) [tr.] (often be crucified) chiefly hist. put (someone) to death by nailing or binding them to a cross. ∎ criticize (someone) severely and unrelentingly. ∎ cause anguish to (someone).DERIVATIVES: cru·ci·fi·er n.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English