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martyre

martyrdom, ordeal

noun mar-TEER Rare

Also means

martyr (person)

Usage Note

Martyre (with a final e) primarily denotes the suffering or ordeal — 'c'est un martyre' means 'it's an ordeal'. The person who suffers is un/une martyr(e); the final e is sometimes dropped for the masculine (le martyr). In hyperbolic everyday speech, calling something a 'martyre' signals extreme discomfort without any religious connotation.

Examples

"Ce voyage fut un vrai martyre."

Natural Translation

This journey was a real ordeal.

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