mass
- mass
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mass (
n.1) "
lump, quantity, size," late 14c., from
O.Fr. masse "
lump, heap, pile; crowd, large amount; ingot, bar" (11c.), and directly from
L. massa "
kneaded dough, lump, that which adheres together like dough," probably from
Gk. maza "
barley cake, lump, mass, ball," related to
massein "
to knead," from
PIE root *mag- "
to knead" (
Cf. Lith. minkyti "
to knead," see
MACERATE (
Cf. macerate)). Sense extended in English 1580s to "
a large quantity, amount, or number." Strict sense in physics is from 1704.
As an adjective from 1733, first attested in mass meeting in American English. mass culture is from 1916 in sociology (earlier in biology); mass hysteria is from 1914; mass media is from 1923; mass movement is from 1897; mass production is from 1920; mass grave is from 1918; mass murder from 1880.
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mass (
n.2) "
Eucharistic service,"
O.E. mæsse, from
V.L. *messa "
eucharistic service,"
lit. "
dismissal," from
L.L. missa "
dismissal,"
fem. pp. of
mittere "
to let go, send" (see
MISSION (
Cf. mission)); probably so called from the concluding words of the service,
Ite, missa est, "
Go, (the prayer) has been sent," or "
Go, it is the dismissal."
{{12}}mass (v.) "to gather in a mass" (intrans.), 1560s, from MASS (Cf. mass) (n.1) or from Fr. masser. Transitive sense by c.1600. Related: Massed; massing.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
mass — mass … Dictionnaire des rimes
Mass — Mass, n. [OE. masse, F. masse, L. massa; akin to Gr. ? a barley cake, fr. ? to knead. Cf. {Macerate}.] [1913 Webster] 1. A quantity of matter cohering together so as to make one body, or an aggregation of particles or things which collectively… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Mass — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase Mass (desambiguación). Tiendas Mass Logo Eslogan El Supermercado del Ahorro Fundación 2001 Sede Lima, Perú … Wikipedia Español
Mass — Pontifical Mass † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Pontifical Mass Pontifical Mass is the solemn Mass celebrated by a bishop with the ceremonies prescribed in the Cæremoniale Episcoporum , I and II. The full ceremonial is carried out when the… … Catholic encyclopedia
mass — Ⅰ. mass UK US /mæs/ adjective [before noun] ► having an effect on or involving a large number of people: »There have been two decades of mass unemployment. mass audience/appeal »A smaller company could produce a breakthrough product with mass… … Financial and business terms
Mass — (m[.a]s), n. [OE. masse, messe, AS. m[ae]sse. LL. missa, from L. mittere, missum, to send, dismiss: cf. F. messe. In the ancient churches, the public services at which the catechumens were permitted to be present were called missa catechumenorum … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
mass — [mas] n. [ME masse < OFr < L massa, a lump, mass < Gr maza, barley cake < massein, to knead < IE base * menk , to knead > MINGLE] 1. a quantity of matter forming a body of indefinite shape and size, usually of relatively large… … English World dictionary
Mass — ist: ein Theaterstück von Leonard Bernstein, siehe Mass (Theater) eine Messkomposition von Steve Dobrogosz, siehe Mass (Dobrogosz) die in Bayern übliche Kurzbezeichnung mit kurzem a für einen Masskrug Mass ist der Familienname folgender Personen … Deutsch Wikipedia
mass — 1 n: an aggregation of usu. similar things (as assets in a succession) considered as a whole mass 2 adj: participated in by or affecting a large number of individuals mass insurance underwriting mass tort litigation Merriam Webster’s Dictionary… … Law dictionary
mass — mass; mass·i·ness; soul·mass; mass·cult; mass·less; bio·mass; mass·less·ness; … English syllables
Mass — [ mæs ] noun count or uncount a ceremony in the Christian Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church, in which Jesus Christ s last meal with his DISCIPLES is remembered: attend/hear Mass celebrate Mass (=perform the ceremony): The Pope will… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
