mass

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the common people generally

   separate the warriors from the mass

2. 2
   noun

   a body of matter without definite shape

   a huge ice mass

3. 3
   verb

   join together into a mass or collect or form a mass

   Crowds were massing outside the palace

4. 4
   noun

   Matter, material.

   And 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 ; […].

5. 5
   noun

   A large quantity; a sum.

   […]he hath discovered to me the way to five or six of the richest mines which the Spaniard hath, and whence all the mass of gold that comes into Spain in effect is drawn.

6. 6
   verb

   To form or collect into a mass; to form into a collective body; to assemble.

   They would unavoidably mix up the whole of these declarations, and mass them together, although the Judge might direct the Jury not to do so.

7. 7
   adj

   Involving a mass of things; concerning a large quantity or number.

   There is evidence of mass extinctions in the distant past.

8. 8
   adj

   Involving a mass of people; of, for, or by the masses.

   Mass unemployment resulted from the financial collapse.

Etymology

From Middle English messe, from Old English mæsse and Old French messe, both from Late Latin missa, from Latin mittō (“to send, dismiss”), compare 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 the words: "Ite, missa est", 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. Co…