- Massacre
- Massacre Mas"sa*cre, n. [F., fr. LL. mazacrium; cf. Prov. G.
metzgern, metzgen, to kill cattle, G. metzger a butcher, and
LG. matsken to cut, hew, OHG. meizan to cut, Goth.
m['a]itan.]
1. The killing of a considerable number of human beings under
circumstances of atrocity or cruelty, or contrary to the
usages of civilized people; as, the massacre on St.
Bartholomew's Day; the St. Valentine's Day massacre; the
Amritsar massacre; the Wounded Knee massacre.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. Murder. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Syn: {Massacre}, {Butchery}, {Carnage}.
Usage: Massacre denotes the promiscuous slaughter of many who can not make resistance, or much resistance. Butchery refers to cold-blooded cruelty in the killing of men as if they were brute beasts. Carnage points to slaughter as producing the heaped-up bodies of the slain. [1913 Webster]
I'll find a day to massacre them all, And raze their faction and their family. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds, Brhold this pattern of thy butcheries. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Such a scent I draw Of carnage, prey innumerable! --Milton. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.