Crucified
/ˈkruːsɪfaɪd/
verbadjectiveC2past tense, past participle
Definition
Crucified originally means to kill someone by fastening them to a wooden cross, a very old and painful way of punishment. Today, it can also mean someone is suffering a lot, either physically or emotionally, or being strongly criticized by others.
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⚡ See It in Action
To kill by nailing or tying to a cross (historical punishment)
- •Jesus was crucified over 2,000 years ago.
- •The Roman Empire crucified criminals as a warning to others.
- •Crucified victims suffered a slow and painful death.
To suffer great pain or strong criticism
- •The actor felt crucified by the harsh reviews.
- •She was crucified in the media after the scandal.
- •He felt crucified by his friends’ harsh words.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "crucified" like "hurt" (A1 word), but much stronger and more serious—it's a very painful and public kind of suffering.
- ✓Picture a large wooden cross and someone hanging on it, unable to move and in great pain.
- ✓It’s the feeling of being deeply hurt or treated very badly by many people.
- ✓Sounds like "CRUCI-fied" → imagine "cruise" + "fried," like being slowly cooked on a cross (a painful image).
- ✓In stories and history, Jesus was crucified, which is a famous example of this punishment and suffering.
- ✓NOT like "punished" (can be small or private), "crucified" is extreme and public.
- ✓NOT like "hurt" (can be small or quick), crucified means long-lasting and very painful suffering.
- ✓As an adjective, "crucified" can describe someone who feels like they are under heavy pressure or attack.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Executed: killed as a legal punishment (Use when focusing on death but not specifically by cross)
- •Tormented: caused great pain or suffering (Use when focusing on suffering, not death)
- •Criticized: judged or found faults (Use when focusing on strong negative comments)
- •Persecuted: treated badly because of beliefs or identity (Use when suffering over time because of who someone is)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "cruci-" (from Latin "crux" meaning cross) + "-fy" (to make or cause) + "-ed" (past tense)
- •Etymology: From Latin "crucifigere," meaning "to fasten to a cross"
- •Historical development: Originally a Roman method of execution; later became famous in Christian history
- •Modern usage: Used literally for the old form of execution, and figuratively to describe severe suffering or criticism
- •Interesting fact: The word "crucifix" (a cross with Jesus on it) shares the same root
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does the historical meaning of crucified influence its use in modern language about suffering?
•Can being "crucified" by criticism ever help someone improve, or is it always harmful?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.Jesus was ___ because the Romans wanted to punish him in a very public way.
2.When someone is ___ by the media, they often feel very hurt and alone.
3.Unlike being simply punished, being ___ means suffering that is very strong and often public.
4.The actor was ___ by critics who said his performance was terrible.
5.People say they feel ___ when they are blamed by many people at once.
6.Being ___ is not just physical pain but can also mean emotional or social suffering.
7.Unlike being quietly punished, being ___ usually means the pain or criticism is very visible to others.