MASSACRES
Noun
massacres
plural of massacre
Verb
massacres
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of massacre
Anagrams
• massacers
Source: Wiktionary
MASSACRE
Mas"sa*cre, n. Etym: [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.
2. Murder. [Obs.] 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.
Mas"sa*cre, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Massacred; p. pr. & vb. n.
Massacring.] Etym: [Cf. F. massacrer. See Massacre, n.]
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition