cru·ci·fy 
(krsə-fī′)
(krsə-fī′)tr.v. cru·ci·fied, cru·ci·fy·ing, cru·ci·fies
1. To put (a person) to death by nailing or binding to a cross.
2. To mortify or subdue (the flesh).
3. To treat cruelly; torment: crucified the awkward child with teasing.
4. To criticize harshly; pillory: The media crucified the politician for breaking a campaign pledge.
[Middle English crucifien, from Old French crucifier, alteration of Latin crucifīgere : crux, cruc-, cross + fīgere, to attach; see dhīgw- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
cruci·fi′er n.