GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Massacre (?), 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. máitan.]
   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”.
   
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   2. Murder. [Obs.]  Shak.
   
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   Syn. -- Massacre, Butchery, Carnage.  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.
   
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   I'll find a day to massacre them all,
   
   And raze their faction and their family. Shak.
   
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   If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
   
   Brhold this pattern of thy butcheries. Shak.
   
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   Such a scent I draw
   
   Of carnage, prey innumerable! Milton.
   
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2.       
   Massacre, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Massacred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Massacring (?).] [Cf. F. massacrer. See Massacre, n.] To kill in considerable numbers where much resistance can not be made; to kill with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and contrary to the usages of nations; to butcher; to slaughter; -- limited to the killing of human beings.
   
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   If James should be pleased to massacre them all, as Maximian had massacred the Theban legion. Macaulay.
   
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