I was mortified!

[Philothea53]

Okay, I used to love to watch the old black and white movies and, well, this is coming from another forum, but the statement, "I was mortified, positively mortified!’ has alway left me wondering, huh? What does that mean? I looked at

newadvent.org/cathen/10578b.htm

but it didn’t help me to understand its usage in the movies of old. Any explanations?

 

[puppycat]

Here’s what the online dictionary says:

mor·ti·fy(môrt-f) v. mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing, mor·ti·fies
v.tr.

1. To cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride; humiliate.
2. To discipline (one’s body and physical appetites) by self-denial or self-inflicted privation.
   v.intr.
3. To practice ascetic discipline or self-denial of the body and its appetites.
4. Pathology To undergo mortification; become gangrenous or necrosed.

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[Middle English mortifien, to deaden, subdue, from Old French mortifier, from Latin mortificre, to kill : mors, mort-, death; see mer- in Indo-European roots + -ficre, -fy.]

 

[Philothea53]

Here’s what the online dictionary says:

mor·ti·fy(môrt-f) v. mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing, mor·ti·fies
v.tr.

1. To cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride; humiliate.
2. To discipline (one’s body and physical appetites) by self-denial or self-inflicted privation.
   v.intr.
3. To practice ascetic discipline or self-denial of the body and its appetites.
4. Pathology To undergo mortification; become gangrenous or necrosed.

---

[Middle English mortifien, to deaden, subdue, from Old French mortifier, from Latin mortificre, to kill : mors, mort-, death; see mer- in Indo-European roots + -ficre, -fy.]

I guess I should have gone to a regular dictionary NewAdvent.org talked a lot about definition #2 but didn’t mention #1.

So, to be absolutely mortified is to being really shamed or embarassed.