massive English · revision 3894

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=la massa}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmæs.ɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|massiffe]] or massif,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|frm|massif|t=bulky, solid]] (feminine massive),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) an alteration of Old French massiz,^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-vul|*massīceus]],^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|massa|t=lump, mass]],^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) through Old French masse “lump”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[mass]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It finally replaced the archaic [[massy]] (14th century).^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Forming a large mass, having great size, weight or solidity: about 1400 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) probably about 1408 in Lydgate's writings according to Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) and about 1410 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of immaterial things, solid, substantial or great in scale, it is from 1581,^(OED 1989) the 1580s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Of gold or silver, solid rather than hollow or plated, it is from 1582.^(OED 1989) Of architectural or artistic style presenting great masses, it is from 1841,^(OED 1989) and of facial features from 1843.^(OED 1989) In medicine, of a disease affecting a large continuous part of tissue, it is from 1897.^(OED 1989) The American Cold War strategy of ''massive retaliation'' was introduced by Secretary of State J. F. Dulles in a speech of January 1954.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – of great size and weight.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1581 – great in scale.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1582 – of gold, solid.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1841 – of architecture.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1897 – of a disease.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1954 – ''massive retaliation''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Large, heavy and solid; [[bulky]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Very large or imposing in amount, scale or degree.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of a medical condition, affecting a large area of tissue; severe: ''a massive heart attack''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' Very successful or important.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[massively]]

+ * [[massiveness]]

+ * [[massive retaliation]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mass]]

+ * [[massif]]

+ * [[massy]]

+ * [[amass]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}