massacre English · revision 14956

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1578}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈmæs.ə.kə/, US /ˈmæs.ə.kɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|massacre|t=wholesale slaughter, carnage]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) related to [[fro|macecre|t=slaughterhouse, butcher's shop]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(MWU 2024) and of unknown or uncertain origin;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) Barnhart and Etymonline compare [[la|macellum|t=provisions store, butcher's shop]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb is from [[m|frm|massacrer|t=to slaughter]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun: about 1578 in Merriam-Webster, 1586 in Barnhart and the OED; the verb, to slaughter in large numbers, 1581.^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Historic massacres such as that of St Bartholomew are named from about 1592,^(OED 1989) and figurative uses are from 1595.^(OED 1989) In the 17th and 18th centuries the verb could mean merely to murder cruelly, without reference to numbers,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the noun a cruel murder (1589).^(OED 1989) In heraldry a massacre is a pair of antlers attached to part of the skull (1722).^(OED 1989) In sport, a one-sided defeat is from 1940.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1578 – a massacre.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1581 – to massacre.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1592 – historic massacres.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1722 – massacre (heraldry).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1940 – a crushing defeat (sport).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The indiscriminate and cruel killing of many people.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The slaughter of a large number of animals.^(AHD)

+ # ''(informal)'' A crushing defeat, as in sport.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To kill indiscriminately and in large numbers; to [[slaughter]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To defeat overwhelmingly.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[massacrer]]

+ * [[unmassacred]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[carnage]]

+ * [[slaughter]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}