What is what do mortify mean?

To mortify means to humiliate, embarrass or shame oneself through self-denial or austere living, for the purpose of spiritual growth or discipline. It is also used to describe the feeling of extreme embarrassment or shame due to one's actions or mistakes. Mortification is often associated with practices of self-discipline, such as fasting, celibacy or other forms of abstention, as a means of overcoming worldly desires and temptations. Some religious traditions use mortification as a means of purifying the soul and bringing oneself closer to God. However, mortification can be taken to an extreme and can have negative physical and mental effects if done excessively or incorrectly.