in medicine and surgery, a total extinction of the natural heat of the body, or a part thereof. Some define mortification a disease, wherein the natural juices of any part quite lose their proper motion; and by that means fall into a fermentative one, and corrupt and destroy the texture of the part. See Surgery.

religion, any severe penance observed on a religious account. How ancient and how universal the practice of it has been, and for what reasons observed, see Fast.