Chapter 953

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.

I'll find a day to massacre them all, And raze their faction and their family. Shak.

If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds, Brhold this pattern of thy butcheries . Shak.

Such a scent I draw Of carnage , prey innumerable ! Milton.

Massacre <Xpage=899>

Mas"sa*cre , 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.

If James should be pleased to massacre them all, as Maximian had massacred the Theban legion. Macaulay.

Massacrer <Xpage=899>

Mas"sa*crer (?) , n. One who massacres. [R.]

Massage <Xpage=899>

Mas"sage (?) , n. [F.] A rubbing or kneading of the body, especially when performed as a hygienic or remedial measure.

Massasauga <Xpage=899>

Mas`sa*sau"ga (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The black rattlesnake ( Crotalus, &or; Caudisona, tergemina ), found in the Mississippi Valley.

Mass\'82, &or; Mass\'82 shot <Xpage=899>

Mass\'82 , &or; Mass\'82 shot (?) , n. (Billiards) A stroke made with the cue held vertically.

Masser <Xpage=899>

Mass"er , n. A priest who celebrates Mass. [R.]

Bale.

Masseter <Xpage=899>

Mas"se*ter (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a chewer, <?/ a muscle of the lower jaw used in chewing, from <?/ to chew: cf. F. mass\'82ter .] (Anat.) The large muscle which raises the under jaw, and assists in mastication.

Masseteric <Xpage=899>

Mas`se*ter"ic (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the masseter.

Masseterine <Xpage=899>

Mas"se*ter`ine (?) , a. (Anat.) Masseteric.

Masseur, n. m., Masseuse <Xpage=899>

Mas`seur" (?) , n. m. , Mas`seuse" (?) , n. f. ,} [F., or formed in imitation of French. See Massage .] (Med.) One who performs massage.

Massicot <Xpage=899>

Mas"si*cot (?) , n. [F. massicot ; E. masticot is a corruption.] (Chem.) Lead protoxide, PbO , obtained as a yellow amorphous powder, the fused and crystalline form of which is called litharge ; lead ocher. It is used as a pigment. <-- now pref. Lead monoxide; also, lead oxide yellow, as opposed to red lead, which is lead tetroxide Pb3O4 -->

&hand; Massicot is sometimes used by painters, and also as a drier in the composition of ointments and plasters.

Massiness <Xpage=899>

Mass"i*ness (?) , n. [From Massy .] The state or quality of being massy; ponderousness.

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Massive <Xpage=900>

Mass"ive (?) , a. [F. massif .] 1. Forming, or consisting of, a large mass; compacted; weighty; heavy; massy. " Massive armor."

Dr. H. More.

2. (Min.) In mass; not necessarily without a crystalline structure, but having no regular form; as, a mineral occurs massive .

Massive rock (Geol.) , a compact crystalline rock not distinctly schistone, as granite; also, with some authors, an eruptive rock.

Massively <Xpage=900>

Mass"ive*ly , adv. In a heavy mass.

Massiveness <Xpage=900>

Mass"ive*ness , n. The state or quality of being massive; massiness.

Massoola boat <Xpage=900>

Mas*soo"la boat` . See Masoola boat .

Massora <Xpage=900>

Mas*so"ra (?) , n. Same as Masora .

Massoret <Xpage=900>

Mas"so*ret (?) , n. Same as Masorite .

Massy <Xpage=900>

Mass"y (?) , a. [ Compar. Massier (?) ; superl. Massiest .] Compacted into, or consisting of, a mass; having bulk and weight ot substance; ponderous; bulky and heavy; weight; heavy; as, a massy shield; a massy rock.

Your swords are now too massy for your strengths, And will not be uplifted. Shak.

Yawning rocks in massy fragments fly. Pope.

Mast <Xpage=900>

Mast (?) , n. [AS. m\'91st , fem. ; akin to G. mast , and E. meat . See Meat .] The fruit of the oak and beech, or other forest trees; nuts; acorns.

Oak mast , and beech, . . . they eat. Chapman.

Swine under an oak filling themselves with the mast . South.

Mast <Xpage=900>

Mast , n. [AS. m\'91st , masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. mast , Icel. mastr , and perh. to L. malus .]

1. (Naut.) A pole, or long, strong, round piece of timber, or spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails, yards, rigging, etc. A mast may also consist of several pieces of timber united by iron bands, or of a hollow pillar of iron or steel.

The tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Of some great ammiral.<--sic--> Milton.

&hand; The most common general names of masts are foremast , mainmast , and mizzenmast , each of which may be made of separate spars.

2. (Mach.) The vertical post of a derrick or crane.

Afore the mast , Before the mast . See under Afore , and Before . -- Mast coat . See under Coat . -- Mast hoop , one of a number of hoops attached to the fore edge of a boom sail, which slip on the mast as the sail is raised or lowered; also, one of the iron hoops used in making a made mast. See Made .

Mast <Xpage=900>

Mast , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Masted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Masting .] To furnish with a mast or masts; to put the masts of in position; as, to mast a ship .

Mastax <Xpage=900>

Mas"tax (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ mouth, jaws.] (Zo\'94l.) (a) The pharynx of a rotifer. It usually contains four horny pieces. The two central ones form the incus, against which the mallei, or lateral ones, work so as to crush the food. (b) The lore of a bird.

Masted <Xpage=900>

Mast"ed (?) , a. Furnished with a mast or masts; -- chiefly in composition; as, a three- masted schooner .

Master <Xpage=900>

Mast"er (?) , n. (Naut.) A vessel having (so many) masts; -- used only in compounds; as, a two- master .

Master <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter (?) , n. [OE. maistre , maister , OF. maistre , mestre , F. ma\'8ctre , fr. L. magister , orig. a double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr. <?/. Cf. Maestro , Magister , Magistrate , Magnitude , Major , Mister , Mistress , Mickle .] 1. A male person having another living being so far subject to his will, that he can, in the main, control his or its actions; -- formerly used with much more extensive application than now. (a) The employer of a servant. (b) The owner of a slave. (c) The person to whom an apprentice is articled. (d) A sovereign, prince, or feudal noble; a chief, or one exercising similar authority. (e) The head of a household. (f) The male head of a school or college. (g) A male teacher. (h) The director of a number of persons performing a ceremony or sharing a feast. (i) The owner of a docile brute, -- especially a dog or horse. (j) The controller of a familiar spirit or other supernatural being.

2. One who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time .

Shak.

Master of a hundred thousand drachms. Addison.

We are masters of the sea. Jowett (Thucyd. ).

3. One who has attained great skill in the use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical art .

Great masters of ridicule. Maccaulay.

No care is taken to improve young men in their own language, that they may thoroughly understand and be masters of it. Locke.

4. A title given by courtesy, now commonly pronounced m\'ccster , except when given to boys; -- sometimes written Mister , but usually abbreviated to Mr.

5. A young gentleman; a lad, or small boy.

Where there are little masters and misses in a house, they are impediments to the diversions of the servants. Swift.

6. (Naut.) The commander of a merchant vessel; -- usually called captain . Also, a commissioned officer in the navy ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant; formerly, an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under the commander, of sailing the vessel.

7. A person holding an office of authority among the Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person holding a similar office in other civic societies.

Little masters , certain German engravers of the 16th century, so called from the extreme smallness of their prints. -- Master in chancery , an officer of courts of equity, who acts as an assistant to the chancellor or judge, by inquiring into various matters referred to him, and reporting thereon to the court. -- Master of arts , one who takes the second degree at a university; also, the degree or title itself, indicated by the abbreviation M. A., or A. M. -- Master of the horse , the third great officer in the British court, having the management of the royal stables, etc. In ceremonial cavalcades he rides next to the sovereign. -- Master of the rolls , in England, an officer who has charge of the rolls and patents that pass the great seal, and of the records of the chancery, and acts as assistant judge of the court. Bouvier . Wharton . -- Past master , one who has held the office of master in a lodge of Freemasons or in a society similarly organized. -- The old masters , distinguished painters who preceded modern painters; especially, the celebrated painters of the 16th and 17th centuries. -- To be master of one's self , to have entire self-control; not to be governed by passion. -- To be one's own master , to be at liberty to act as one chooses without dictation from anybody.

&hand; Master , signifying chief , principal , masterly , superior , thoroughly skilled , etc., is often used adjiectively or in compounds; as, master builder or master -builder, master chord or master -chord, master mason or master -mason, master workman or master -workman, master mechanic, master mind, master spirit, master passion, etc.

Throughout the city by the master gate. Chaucer.

Master joint (Geol.) , a quarryman's term for the more prominent and extended joints traversing a rock mass. -- Master key , a key adapted to open several locks differing somewhat from each other; figuratively, a rule or principle of general application in solving difficulties. -- Master lode (Mining) , the principal vein of ore. -- Master mariner , an experienced and skilled seaman who is certified to be competent to command a merchant vessel. -- Master sinew (Far.) , a large sinew that surrounds the hough of a horse, and divides it from the bone by a hollow place, where the windgalls are usually seated. -- Master singer . See Mastersinger . -- Master stroke , a capital performance; a masterly achievement; a consummate action; as, a master stroke of policy . -- Master tap (Mech.) , a tap for forming the thread in a screw cutting die. -- Master touch . (a) The touch or skill of a master . Pope . (b) Some part of a performance which exhibits very skillful work or treatment. "Some master touches of this admirable piece." Tatler . -- Master work , the most important work accomplished by a skilled person, as in architecture, literature, etc.; also, a work which shows the skill of a master; a masterpiece. -- Master workman , a man specially skilled in any art, handicraft, or trade, or who is an overseer, foreman, or employer.

Master <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mastered (?) ; p. pr. vb. n. Mastering .] 1. To become the master of; to subject to one's will, control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to subdue.

Obstinacy and willful neglects must be mastered , even though it cost blows. Locke.

2. To gain the command of, so as to understand or apply; to become an adept in; as, to master a science .

3. To own; to posses. [Obs.]

The wealth That the world masters . Shak.

Master <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter , v. i. To be skillful; to excel. [Obs.]

Masterdom <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*dom (?) , n. [ Master + -dom .] Dominion; rule; command. [R.]

Shak.

Masterful <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*ful (?) , a. 1. Inclined to play the master; domineering; imperious; arbitrary.

Dryden.

2. Having the skill or power of a master; indicating or expressing power or mastery.

His masterful , pale face. Mrs. Browning.

Masterfully <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*ful*ly , adv. In a masterful manner; imperiously.

A lawless and rebellious man who held lands masterfully and in high contempt of the royal authority. Macaulay.

Masterhood <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*hood (?) , n. The state of being a master; hence, disposition to command or hector.

C. Bront\'82.

Masterless <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*less , a. Destitute of a master or owner; ungoverned or ungovernable. -- Mas"ter*less*ness , n.

Masterliness <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*li*ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being masterly; ability to control wisely or skillfully.

Masterly <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*ly , a. 1. Suitable to, or characteristic of, a master; indicating thorough knowledge or superior skill and power; showing a master's hand; as, a masterly design; a masterly performance; a masterly policy. "A wise and masterly inactivity."

Sir J. Mackintosh.

2. Imperious; domineering; arbitrary.

Masterly <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*ly , adv. With the skill of a master.

Thou dost speak masterly . Shak.

Masterous <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*ous (?) , a. Masterly. [Obs.]

Milton.

Masterpiece <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*piece` (?) , n. Anything done or made with extraordinary skill; a capital performance; a chef-d'\'d2uvre; a supreme achievement.

The top and masterpiece of art. South.

Dissimulation was his masterpiece . Claredon.

Mastership <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*ship , n. 1. The state or office of a master.

2. Mastery; dominion; superior skill; superiority.

Where noble youths for mastership should strive. Driden.

3. Chief work; masterpiece. [Obs.]

Dryden.

4. An ironical title of respect.

How now, seignior Launce ! what news with your mastership ? Shak.

Mastersinger <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*sing`er (?) , n. [A translation of G. meisters\'84nger .] One of a class of poets which flourished in Nuremberg and some other cities of Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries. They bound themselves to observe certain arbitrary laws of rhythm.

Masterwort <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) (a) A tall and coarse European umbelliferous plant ( Peucedanum Ostruthium , formerly Imperatoria ). (b) The Astrantia major , a European umbelliferous plant with a showy colored involucre. (c) Improperly, the cow parsnip ( Heracleum lanatum ).

Mastery <Xpage=900>

Mas"ter*y (?) , n. ; pl. Masteries (#) . [OF. maistrie .]

1. The position or authority of a master; dominion; command; supremacy; superiority.

If divided by mountains, they will fight for the mastery of the passages of the tops. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Superiority in war or competition; victory; triumph; pre\'89minence.

The voice of them that shout for mastery . Ex. xxxii. 18.

Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. 1 Cor. ix. 25.

O, but to have gulled him Had been a mastery . B. Jonson.

3. Contest for superiority. [Obs.]

Holland.

4. A masterly operation; a feat. [Obs.]

I will do a maistrie ere I go. Chaucer.

5. Specifically, the philosopher's stone. [Obs.]

6. The act process of mastering; the state of having mastered.

He could attain to a mastery in all languages. Tillotson.

The learning and mastery of a tongue, being unpleasant in itself, should not be cumbered with other difficulties. Locke.

Mastful <Xpage=900>

Mast"ful (?) , a. [See lst Mast .] Abounding in mast; producing mast in abundance; as, the mastful forest; a mastful chestnut.

Dryden.

Masthead <Xpage=900>

Mast"head` (?) , n. (Naut.) The top or head of a mast; the part of a mast above the hounds.

Masthead <Xpage=900>

Mast"head" , v. t. (Naut.) To cause to go to the masthead as a punishment.

Marryat.

Masthouse <Xpage=900>

Mast"house` (?) , n. A building in which vessels' masts are shaped, fitted, etc.

Mastic <Xpage=900>

Mas"tic (?) , n. [F., fr. L. mastiche , mastichum , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to chew, because of its being used in the East for chewing.] [Written also mastich .]

1. (Bot.) A low shrubby tree of the genus Pistacia ( P. Lentiscus ), growing upon the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing a valuable resin; -- called also, mastic tree .

2. A resin exuding from the mastic tree, and obtained by incision. The best is in yellowish white, semitransparent tears, of a faint smell, and is used as an astringent and an aromatic, also as an ingredient in varnishes.

3. A kind of cement composed of burnt clay, litharge, and linseed oil, used for plastering walls, etc.

Barbary mastic (Bot.) , the Pistachia Atlantica . -- Peruvian mastic tree (Bot.) , a small tree ( Schinus Molle ) with peppery red berries; -- called also pepper tree . -- West Indian mastic (Bot.) , a lofty tree ( Bursera gummifera ) full of gum resin in every part.

Masticable <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*ca*ble (?) , a. Capable of being masticated.

Masticador <Xpage=900>

Mas`ti*ca"dor (?) , n. [Cf. Sp. mastigador . See Masticate .] (Man.) A part of a bridle, the slavering bit. [Written also mastigador .]

Masticate <Xpage=900>