# Is there a word for an almost-martyr? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2023, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676 "2023-09-06T01:38:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/1 "2023-09-06T01:38:14Z")
I’m asking in the Christian context because I don’t know enough about other religions but if you want to answer regarding them that’s perfectly fine. Is there any specific word or recognition for an individual who was perfectly willing to go through martyrdom for their faith but for whatever reason did not in the end have to do so? For example their execution was scheduled and then cancelled. Thanks for advance! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/2 "2023-09-06T05:36:32Z")
You don’t have to die to be a martyr - just being tortured could still qualify you to be a martyr (a “red martyr”, [according to one early Christian classification scheme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyr#Degrees_of_martyrdom) - other types weren’t even persecuted) Apparently, the term “dry martyr” might also apply here. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/3 "2023-09-06T06:43:59Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Apparently, the term “dry martyr” might also apply here. They were merely stirred, not shaken? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/4 "2023-09-06T08:56:26Z")
How about ‘lucky’, or ‘blessed’. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/5 "2023-09-06T15:36:03Z")
Back in my Catholic school days “martyred” (the verb) was reserved for those who were killed, but “martyrs” (the noun) seemed to come in three categories - “persecuted” (generally locked up in prison or exiled) “tortured” and “slain.” English is a wonderful language. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/6 "2023-09-06T16:44:36Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Back in my Catholic school days “martyred” (the verb) was reserved for those who were killed, but “martyrs” (the noun) seemed to come in three categories - “persecuted” (generally locked up in prison or exiled) “tortured” and “slain.” Usage consistent with _Viz_ comic’s _Mrs Brady Old Lady_, in which a common expression might be something like: “You’re a martyr to your piles, aren’t you Edna” i.e. suffering terribly from an ailment, but not dead. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/7 "2023-09-15T00:46:09Z")
florida man ? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/8 "2023-09-15T17:48:11Z")
Marty? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/9 "2023-09-15T17:51:09Z")
Perfect! ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/10 "2023-09-18T13:44:03Z")
Jussie Smollett? ---
**Author:** ![Celtic\_Kitsune](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celtic_kitsune/32/12086_2.png) [@Celtic\_Kitsune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celtic_Kitsune)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2023, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-an-almost-martyr/989676/11 "2023-09-23T12:56:22Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > You don’t have to die to be a martyr - just being tortured could still qualify you to be a martyr (a “red martyr”, [according to one early Christian classification scheme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyr#Degrees_of_martyrdom) - other types weren’t even persecuted) > > Apparently, the term “dry martyr” might also apply here. > [@TriPolar](#): > > How about ‘lucky’, or ‘blessed’. > [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Back in my Catholic school days “martyred” (the verb) was reserved for those who were killed, but “martyrs” (the noun) seemed to come in three categories - “persecuted” (generally locked up in prison or exiled) “tortured” and “slain.” > > English is a wonderful language. That about covers it, thanks for the answers everyone!