massacre

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   kill a large number of people indiscriminately

   The Hutus massacred the Tutsis in Rwanda

2. 2
   noun

   The killing of a considerable number (usually limited to people) where little or no resistance can be made, with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and/or contrary to civilized norms.

   St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

3. 3
   noun

   Murder.

   The tyrannous and bloody act is done,— The most arch deed of piteous massacre That ever yet this land was guilty of.

4. 4
   verb

   To kill in considerable numbers where little or no resistance can be made, with indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and contrary to civilized norms. (Often limited to the killing of human beings.)

   If James should be pleased to massacre them all, as Maximilian had massacred the Theban legion

5. 5
   verb

   To kill with great force or brutality.

   Look how they massacred my boy.

6. 6
   noun

   the savage and excessive killing of many people

7. 7
   noun

   Any overwhelming defeat, as in a game or sport.

8. 8
   verb

   To win against (an opponent) very decisively.

Etymology

1580, from Middle French massacre, from Old French macacre, marcacre, macecre, macecle (“slaughterhouse, butchery”), usually thought to be deverbal from Old French macecrer, macecler (“to slaughter”), though the noun seems to be attested somewhat earlier. It is also found in Medieval Latin mazacrium (“massacre, slaughter, killing”, also “the head of a newly killed stag”). Further origin disputed: * From Latin macellum (“butcher shop”). * From Vulgar Latin *matteuculāre, from *matteuca (cf. massue), from Late Latin mattea, mattia, from Latin mateola. * From Middle Low German *matskelen (“to mas…