Masoola boat Ma·soo"la boat` A kind of boat used on the coast of Madras, India. The planks are sewed together with strands of coir which cross over a wadding of the same material, so that the shock on taking the beach through surf is much reduced. [ Written also masula , masulah , etc.]

Masora Ma·so"ra noun [ NHeb. māsōrāh tradition.] A Jewish critical work on the text of the Hebrew Scriptures, composed by several learned rabbis of the school of Tiberias, in the eighth and ninth centuries. [ Written also Masorah , Massora , and Massorah .]

Masoret Mas"o·ret noun A Masorite. [ Written also Masorete , and Massorete .]

Masoretic, Masoretical Mas`o·ret"ic, Mas`o·ret"ic·al adjective [ Confer French massorétique .] Of or relating to the Masora, or to its authors.

Masoretic points and accents , the vowel points and accents of the Hebrew text of the Bible, of which the first mention is in the Masora.

Masorite Mas"o·rite noun One of the writers of the Masora.

Masque Masque noun A mask; a masquerade.

Masquerade Mas`quer·ade" noun [ French mascarade , from Spanish mascarada , or Italian mascherata . See Mask .]

1. An assembly of persons wearing masks, and amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other diversions.

In courtly balls and midnight masquerades .

Pope.

2. A dramatic performance by actors in masks; a mask. See 1st Mask , 4. [ Obsolete]

3. Acting or living under false pretenses; concealment of something by a false or unreal show; pretentious show; disguise.

That masquerade of misrepresentation which invariably accompanied the political eloquence of Rome.

De Quincey.

4. A Spanish diversion on horseback.

Masquerade Mas`quer·ade" intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Masqueraded ; present participle & verbal noun Masquerading .]

1. To assemble in masks; to take part in a masquerade.

2. To frolic or disport in disquise; to make a pretentious show of being what one is not.

A freak took an ass in the head, and he goes into the woods, masquerading up and down in a lion's skin.

L'Estrange.

Masquerade Mas`quer·ade" transitive verb To conceal with masks; to disguise. "To masquerade vice." Killingbeck.

Masquerader Mas`quer·ad"er noun One who masquerades; a person wearing a mask; one disguised.

Mass Mass noun [ Middle English masse , messe , Anglo-Saxon mæsse . Late Latin missa , from Latin mittere , missum , to send, dismiss: confer French messe . In the ancient churches, the public services at which the catechumens were permitted to be present were called missa catechumenorum , ending with the reading of the Gospel. Then they were dismissed with these words : "Ite, missa est" [ sc . ecclesia], the congregation is dismissed. After that the sacrifice proper began. At its close the same words were said to those who remained. So the word gave the name of Mass to the sacrifice in the Catholic Church. See Missile , and confer Christmas , Lammas , Mess a dish, Missal .]

1. (R. C. Ch.) The sacrifice in the sacrament of the Eucharist, or the consecration and oblation of the host.

2. (Mus.) The portions of the Mass usually set to music, considered as a musical composition; -- namely, the Kyrie , the Gloria , the Credo , the Sanctus , and the Agnus Dei , besides sometimes an Offertory and the Benedictus .

Canon of the Mass . See Canon . -- High Mass , Mass with incense, music, the assistance of a deacon, subdeacon, etc. -- Low Mass , Mass which is said by the priest throughout, without music. -- Mass bell , the sanctus bell. See Sanctus . -- Mass book , the missal or Roman Catholic service book.

Mass Mass intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Massed ; present participle & verbal noun Massing .] To celebrate Mass. [ Obsolete] Hooker.

Mass Mass noun [ Middle English masse , French masse , Latin massa ; akin to Greek ... a barley cake, from ... to knead. Confer Macerate .]

1. A quantity of matter cohering together so as to make one body, or an aggregation of particles or things which collectively make one body or quantity, usually of considerable size; as, a mass of ore, metal, sand, or water.

If it were not for these principles, the bodies of the earth, planets, comets, sun, and all things in them, would grow cold and freeze, and become inactive masses .

Sir I. Newton.

A deep mass of continual sea is slower stirred
To rage.

Savile.

2. (Phar.) A medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump, of consistency suitable for making pills; as, blue mass .

3. A large quantity; a sum.

All the mass of gold that comes into Spain.

Sir W. Raleigh.

He had spent a huge mass of treasure.

Sir J. Davies.

4. Bulk; magnitude; body; size.

This army of such mass and charge.

Shak.

5. The principal part; the main body.

Night closed upon the pursuit, and aided the mass of the fugitives in their escape.

Jowett (Thucyd.).

6. (Physics) The quantity of matter which a body contains, irrespective of its bulk or volume.

» Mass and weight are often used, in a general way, as interchangeable terms, since the weight of a body is proportional to its mass (under the same or equal gravitative forces), and the mass is usually ascertained from the weight . Yet the two ideas, mass and weight , are quite distinct. Mass is the quantity of matter in a body; weight is the comparative force with which it tends towards the center of the earth. A mass of sugar and a mass of lead are assumed to be equal when they show an equal weight by balancing each other in the scales.

Blue mass . See under Blue . -- Mass center (Geom.) , the center of gravity of a triangle. -- Mass copper , native copper in a large mass. -- Mass meeting , a large or general assembly of people, usually a meeting having some relation to politics. -- The masses , the great body of the people, as contrasted with the higher classes; the populace.

Mass Mass transitive verb To form or collect into a mass; to form into a collective body; to bring together into masses; to assemble.

But mass them together and they are terrible indeed.

Coleridge.

Massacre Mas"sa·cre noun [ French, from Late Latin mazacrium ; confer Prov. German metzgern , metzgen , to kill cattle, German metzger a butcher, and LG. matsken to cut, hew, Old High German 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.

2. Murder. [ Obsolete] Shak.

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 Mas"sa·cre transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Massacred ; present participle & verbal noun Massacring .] [ Confer French massacrer . See Massacre , noun ] 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 Mas"sa·crer noun One who massacres. [ R.]

Massage Mas"sage noun [ French] A rubbing or kneading of the body, especially when performed as a hygienic or remedial measure.

Massage Mas"sage transitive verb (Medicine) To treat by means of massage; to rub or knead; as, to massage a patient with ointment.

Massagist Mas"sag·ist noun One who practices massage; a masseur or masseuse.

Massasauga Mas`sa·sau"ga noun (Zoology) The black rattlesnake ( Crotalus, or Caudisona, tergemina ), found in the Mississippi Valley.

Massé, Massé shot Massé, Massé shot noun (Billiards) A stroke made with the cue held vertically.

Masser Mass"er noun A priest who celebrates Mass. [ R.] Bale.

Masseter Mas"se·ter noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... a chewer, ... a muscle of the lower jaw used in chewing, from ... to chew: confer French masséter .] (Anat.) The large muscle which raises the under jaw, and assists in mastication.

Masseteric Mas`se·ter"ic adjective (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the masseter.

Masseterine Mas"se·ter`ine adjective (Anat.) Masseteric.

Masseur Mas`seur" noun m. , Mas`seuse" noun f. ,[ French, or formed in imitation of French. See Massage .] (Medicine) One who performs massage.

Masseur Mas`seur" (mȧ`sûr") noun ; plural -seurs (-sûrz"; F. -sûr"). [ French See Massage .] 1. A man who practices massage.

2. An instrument used in the performance of massage.

Masseuse Mas`seuse" (mȧ*sûz") noun ; plural -seuses ( F. -sûz"). [ French] A woman who practices massage.

Massicot Mas"si·cot noun [ French massicot ; English masticot is a corruption.] (Chemistry) 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.

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

Massiness Mass"i·ness noun [ From Massy .] The state or quality of being massy; ponderousness.

Massive Mass"ive adjective [ French 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 schistose, as granite; also, with some authors, an eruptive rock.

Massively Mass"ive·ly adverb In a heavy mass.

Massiveness Mass"ive·ness noun The state or quality of being massive; massiness.

Massoola boat Mas·soo"la boat` See Masoola boat .

Massora Mas·so"ra noun Same as Masora .

Massoret Mas"so·ret noun Same as Masorite .

Massy Mass"y adjective [ Compar. Massier ; superl. Massiest .] Compacted into, or consisting of, a mass; having bulk and weight or substance; ponderous; bulky and heavy; weighty; 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 Mast (mȧst) noun [ Anglo-Saxon mæst , fem.; akin to German mast , and English 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 Mast noun [ Anglo-Saxon mæst , masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Swedish mast , Icelandic mastr , and perhaps to Latin malus .]

1. (Nautical) 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.

Milton.

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

2. (Machinery) 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 Mast transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Masted ; present participle & verbal noun Masting .] To furnish with a mast or masts; to put the masts of in position; as, to mast a ship.

Mast Mast noun (Aëronautics) A spar or strut to which tie wires or guys are attached for stiffening purposes.

Mastaba Mas"ta·ba noun Also Mas"ta*bah [ Arabic maçtabah a large stone bench.] 1. In Mohammedan countries, a fixed seat, common in dwellings and in public places.

2. (Egyptology) A type of tomb, of the time of the Memphite dynasties, comprising an oblong structure with sloping sides (sometimes containing a decorated chamber, sometimes of solid masonry), and connected with a mummy chamber in the rock beneath.

Mastax Mas"tax noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... mouth, jaws.] (Zoology) (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 Mast"ed adjective Furnished with a mast or masts; -- chiefly in composition; as, a three- masted schooner.

Master Mast"er (-ẽr) noun (Nautical) A vessel having (so many) masts; -- used only in compounds; as, a two- master .

Master Mas"ter (mȧs"tẽr) noun [ Middle English maistre , maister , Old French maistre , mestre , French maître , from Latin magister , orig. a double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Greek me`gas . Confer 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.

Macaulay.

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 mĭster , 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. (Nautical) 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.

» Master , signifying chief , principal , masterly , superior , thoroughly skilled , etc., is often used adjectively 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 Mas"ter transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Mastered ; present participle verbal noun 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. [ Obsolete]

The wealth
That the world masters .

Shak.

Master Mas"ter intransitive verb To be skillful; to excel. [ Obsolete]

Master vibrator Mas"ter vi"bra·tor In an internal-combustion engine with two or more cylinders, an induction coil and vibrator placed in the circuit between the battery or magneto and the coils for the different cylinders, which are used without vibrators of their own.

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