1. martyr - Noun
2. martyr - Verb
One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the gospel; one who is put to death for his religion; as, Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
Hence, one who sacrifices his life, his station, or what is of great value to him, for the sake of principle, or to sustain a cause.
To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
To persecute; to torment; to torture.
Source: Webster's dictionaryThe tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins. Soren Kierkegaard
The martyr sacrifices themselves entirely in vain. Or rather not in vain; for they make the selfish more selfish, the lazy more lazy, the narrow narrower. Florence Nightingale
It is more difficult, and it calls for higher energies of soul, to live a martyr than to die one. Horace Mann
I am a Bedouin warrior who brought glory to Libya and will die a martyr. Muammar Gaddafi
He who makes an idol of his interest makes a martyr of his integrity. Italian Proverb
A scholar's ink is worth as much as the blood of the martyr. Arabic Proverb