Lexic.us

Definition of Massacre

1. Verb. Kill a large number of people indiscriminately. "They want to massacre the prisoners "; "The Hutus massacred the Tutsis in Rwanda"

Definition of Massacre

1. n. 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. v. t. 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.

Definition of Massacre

1. Noun. The intentional killing of a considerable number of human beings, under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty, or contrary to the usages of civilized people. ¹

2. Noun. (obsolete) Murder. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) 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. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Massacre

1. to kill indiscriminately [v -CRED, -CRING, -CRES]

Medical Definition of Massacre

1. 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. Synonym: 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) Origin: 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. Maitan. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Literary usage of Massacre

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The History of the Norman Conquest of England: Its Causes and Its Results by Edward Augustus Freeman (1877)
"The Danes were indeed thoroughly faithless, but an intended general massacre of the whole Witenagemot when in full session, which the words seem to imply, ..."

2. The Historic Note-book: With an Appendix of Battles by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (1903)
"He began with the massacre of 300 nobles and their children ... The massacre succeeded, and the legitimate monarchy was overthrown. ..."

3. The Reformation by George Park Fisher (1906)
"The news of the great massacre excited a tumult of joy at Madrid and at Rome. It is said that Philip II., for the first time in his life, laughed aloud. ..."

4. Report of the International Commission to Inquire Into the Causes and (1914)
"To arm the Turks was, on the other hand, to condemn the Greek inhabitants to massacre. A culpable error of judgment was committed in circumstances which ..."

5. The Cambridge Modern History by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton Acton, Ernest Alfred Benians, Sir Adolphus William Ward, George Walter Prothero (1905)
"The massacre of St Bartholomew (August 23,1572) filled England and Scotland with horror and dismay. The triumphant acclamation with which ..."

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