Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Mass
Mass
(mȧs)
, Noun.
[OE.
masse
, messe
, AS. maesse
. 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
, 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 cf. 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
. Mass
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Massed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Massing
.] To celebrate Mass.
[Obs.]
Hooker.
Mass
,Noun.
[OE.
masse
, F. masse
, L. massa
; akin to Gr. [GREEK] a barley cake, fr. [GREEK] to knead. Cf. 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 waterIf 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
To rage.
mass
of continual sea is slower stirredTo 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. Shakespeare
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
,Verb.
T.
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.
2.
Murder.
[Obs.]
Shak.
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
And raze their faction and their family.
massacre
them all,And raze their faction and their family.
Shakespeare
If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
Brhold this pattern of thy
Brhold this pattern of thy
butcheries
. Shakespeare
Such a scent I draw
Of
Of
carnage
, prey innumerable! Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Mass
M`ASS
,Noun.
1.
A lump; a body of matter concreted, collected or formed into a lump; applied to any solid body; as a mass of iron or lead; a mass of flesh; as mass of ice; a mass of dough.2.
A collective body of fluid matter. The ocean is a mass of water.3.
A heap; as a mass of earth.4.
A great quantity collected; as a mass of treasure.5.
Bulk; magnitude. This army of such mass and charge.
6.
An assemblage; a collection of particulars blended, confused or indistinct; as a mass of colors. They lose their forms, and make a mass
Confused and black, if brought too near.
7.
Gross body of things considered collectively; the body; the bulk; as the mass of people in a nation. A small portion of morbid matter may infect the whole mass of fluids in the body.M`ASS
,Noun.
M`ASS
,Verb.
I.
M`ASS
,Verb.
T.