In late Middle English (circa 1400) as masse in the sense of "lump, quantity of matter", from Anglo-Norman masse, in Old French attested from the 11th century, via late Latin massa (“lump, dough”), from Ancient Greek μᾶζα (mâza, “barley-cake, lump (of dough)”). The Greek noun may be derived from the verb μάσσω (mássō, “to knead”), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European *maǵ- (“to oil, knead”), although this is uncertain. Doublet of masa.
The sense of "a large number or quantity" arises circa 1580. The scientific sense is from 1687 (as Latin massa) in the works of Isaac Newton, with the first English use (as mass) occurring in 1704.
Meanings
(not-comparable, usually) Involving a mass of things; concerning a large quantity or number.
The national liberation movement had not yet developed to a sufficiently mass scale. 1988, V. V. Zagladin, Vitaly Baskakov, International Working Class and Communist Movement: Historical Record, 1830s to Mid-1940s, page 236:
With perhaps unprecedented magnitude and clarity, Auschwitz brings theologians and philosophers face to face with the facts of suffering on an incredibly mass scale, with issues poignantly raised concerning the absence of divine intervention or the inadequacies of divine power or benevolence; […]. 1989, Creighton Peden, Larry E. Axel (editors), God, Values, and Empiricism: Issues in Philosophical Theology, page 2:
The air arms did more than provide the warring nations with individual heroes, for their individual exploits occurred within the context of an increasingly mass aerial effort in a war of the masses. 2010, John Horne, A Companion to World War I, page 159:
There is evidence of mass extinctions in the distant past.
(not-comparable, usually) Involving a mass of people; of, for, or by the masses.
Finally, in the past century, secular culture itself has undergone a transition from predominantly folk styles to an overwhelmingly mass culture, […]. 2004, John R. Hall, Gone from the Promised Land: Jonestown in American Cultural History, page 79:
[…] if only because it promises the ‘massest’ of mass markets. 2001, Brian Moeran, Asian Media Productions, page 13:
The writing has been on the wall that Americans’ support for mass deportation was subject to all kinds of caveats and provisos. 2025 July 13, Aaron Blake, “Trump’s mass deportation is backfiring”, in CNN:
While agreeing with Bell on the unlikelihood that any fully mass — in the sense of atomized and alienated — society has ever existed,⁵ I believe that at any point in time, in any social system, some elements may be characterized as "masses." 1970, James Wilson White, The Sōkagakkai and Mass Society, page 3:
The director didn't make the images up; they're there, but in putting that one slice of gay life into the massest of mass media — the amoral promiscuity, the drug and alcohol abuse, the stereotyped flamboyance and campiness, the bitchy queeniness and flimsy values — something very dangerous happens […] 2000 November 21, Howie Klein, “Queer as role models”, in The Advocate, number 825, page 9:
Every agency is sold on use of mass media today — or at least, it thinks it is — and what can be "masser" than television? 1958, Child Welfare, volume 37, page 2:
As a right, we come to expect it, and that happens through the mass media, the massest of which, by far, is television. 2007, Thomas Peele, Queer popular culture: literature, media, film, and television, page 11:
Undoubtedly this is the case; at least it is "masser" than in Pinchot's time. 1974, Edward Abraham Cohn, The Political Economy of Environmental Enhancement, page 91:
But it also highlights the changes that have taken place in gay and AIDS activism, and the way that a formerly mass movement has been recast. 1999 December, Sara Miles, “Rebel with a Cause”, in Out, page 132:
Mass unemployment resulted from the financial collapse.
nl massa- (involving a mass of people) · uk ма́совий (involving a mass of things) · fi joukko- (involving a mass of people) · bg масов (involving a mass of people) · fi joukko- (involving a mass of things) · kk бұқаралық (involving a mass of people) · fi massiivinen (involving a mass of things) · bg масов (involving a mass of things) · az kütləvi (involving a mass of people) · az kütləvi (involving a mass of things) · mi mātinitini (involving a mass of things) · nl massa- (involving a mass of things) · ru ма́ссовый (involving a mass of people) · ml കൂട്ട (involving a mass of things) · es másico (involving a mass of things) · es de masa (involving a mass of people) · pt massivo (involving a mass of things) · be ма́савы (involving a mass of things) · it di massa (involving a mass of people) · es en masa (involving a mass of people) · es masivo (involving a mass of people) · uk ма́совий (involving a mass of people) · ru ма́ссовый (involving a mass of things) · eo amasa (involving a mass of people) · eo amasa (involving a mass of things) · es multitudinario (involving a mass of people)
In late Middle English (circa 1400) as masse in the sense of "lump, quantity of matter", from Anglo-Norman masse, in Old French attested from the 11th century, via late Latin massa (“lump, dough”), from Ancient Greek μᾶζα (mâza, “barley-cake, lump (of dough)”). The Greek noun may be derived from the verb μάσσω (mássō, “to knead”), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European *maǵ- (“to oil, knead”), although this is uncertain. Doublet of masa.
The sense of "a large number or quantity" arises circa 1580. The scientific sense is from 1687 (as Latin massa) in the works of Isaac Newton, with the first English use (as mass) occurring in 1704.
Meanings
(countable, physical, uncountable) Matter, material. ▸ A quantity of matter cohering so as to make one body, or an aggregation of particles or things which collectively make one body or quantity, usually of considerable size.
[…] and because a deep mass of continual sea is slower stirred to rage. 1821 [1582], George Buchanan, The History of Scotland, from the Earliest Accounts of that Nation, to the Reign of King James VI, volume 1 (in English), translation of Rerum Scoticarum Historia by an unnamed translator, page 133:
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 ; […]. 1718 [1704], Isaac Newton, Opticks, 2nd edition:
(countable, obsolete, physical, uncountable) Matter, material. ▸ Precious metal, especially gold or silver.
Right in the midst the Goddesse selfe did stand / Upon an altar of some costly masse […]. 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.10:
(countable, physical, uncountable) Matter, material. ▸ A measure of the inertia of a mass of matter, one of four fundamental properties of matter. SI unit of mass: kilogram.
(countable, physical, uncountable) Matter, material. ▸ A medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump, of consistency suitable for making pills.
blue mass
(countable, physical, uncountable) Matter, material. ▸ A palpable or visible abnormal globular structure.
Near-synonym: lump
(countable, physical, uncountable) Matter, material. ▸ Excess body mass, especially in the form of muscle hypertrophy.
After all, muscle maniacs go "ga ga" over mass no matter how it's presented. 1988, Steve Holman, “Christian Conquers Columbus”, in Ironman, volume 47, number 6, pages 28–34:
(countable, uncountable) 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. 1829, Sir Walter Raleigh, The Works of Sir Walter Ralegh, Kt, volume VIII:
For though he had spent a huge mass of treasure in transporting his army, […]. 1869, Alexander George Richey, Lectures on the History of Ireland: Down to A. D. 1534, page 204:
(countable, uncountable) A large quantity; a sum. ▸ Bulk; magnitude; body; size.
Witness this army of such mass and charge / Led by a delicate and tender prince, c. 1599-1601, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, act 4, scene 4:
(countable, uncountable) A large quantity; a sum. ▸ The principal part; the main body.
Night closed upon the pursuit, and aided the mass of the fugitives in their escape. 1881, Thucydides, translated by Benjamin Jowett, Thucydides translated into English, volume 1, page 310:
(countable, uncountable) A large quantity; a sum. ▸ A large body of individuals, especially persons.
Generals gathered in their masses / Just like witches at black masses 1970, “War Pigs”, in Paranoid, performed by Black Sabbath:
The mass of spectators didn't see the infraction on the field.
A mass of ships converged on the beaches of Dunkirk.
(countable, in-plural, uncountable) A large quantity; a sum. ▸ The lower classes of persons.
fr masse (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · es masa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · pl masa (large body of individuals) · fi massa (large quantity; sum) · da masse (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ru ма́ссы (large body of individuals) · de Masse (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · mk маса (large quantity; sum) · is massi (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · bg ма́са (large body of individuals) · ar كُتْلَة (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · hy զանգված (large quantity; sum) · hy զանգված (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · hu tömeg (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · ja 重さ (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · az kütlə (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · cy màs (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · hu tömeg (large quantity; sum) · nl massa (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · cs hmotnost (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · grc ὄγκος (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · ru ма́сса (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · eo maso (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · nn masse (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · hi द्रव्यमान (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ml പിണ്ഡം (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · fi massa (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · ru ма́сса (bodybuilding: excess body mass) · bg ма́са (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · lo ມວນສານ (large body of individuals) · lo ມວນ (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · cs spousta (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · tg масса (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · he מַסָּה (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ro masă (pharmacy: medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump) · nl massa (principal part) · pl masy (lower classes) · uk ма́са (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ru ма́сса (large quantity; sum) · lv masa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · bg ма́са (large quantity; sum) · la mōlēs (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · el μάζα (bodybuilding: excess body mass) · ka მასა (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · cs hmota (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · sv vikt (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · bg ма́си (large body of individuals) · pl masa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ast masa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · bg ма́са (bodybuilding: excess body mass) · tr yığın (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · nl massa (large body of individuals) · my ဒြပ်ထု (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ro mase (lower classes) · ms berat (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · pt massa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · grc ὄγκος (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · sco weicht (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · sk váha (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · pl masy (large body of individuals) · fi massat (lower classes) · de Masse (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · fi paino (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · nl massa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · bg по-голямата част (principal part) · ms massa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · pt grosso (principal part) · el μάζα (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · es masa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · be ма́са (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · fi pääosa (principal part) · pl masa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · mk маса (pharmacy: medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump) · eo maso (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · la mōlēs (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · th มวล (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · fi patti (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · mg androhina (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · nl massa (large quantity; sum) · rgn màsa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · nb masse (large body of individuals) · ru ма́сса (principal part) · sv massa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · uk ма́са (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · mg gaboka (lower classes) · ar وَزْن (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · sl masa (large quantity; sum) · ml പിണ്ഡം (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · ja 質量 (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · el μάζα (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · an masa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · el μάζα (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · de Masse (large quantity; sum) · got 𐌷𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌼𐌰 (large quantity; sum) · es pella (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · vi khối lượng (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · fo vekt (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · eo amaso (large quantity; sum) · nl hoeveelheid (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · hy զանգված (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ar كُتْلَة (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ca massa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ast masa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · pt massa (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · ru ма́ссы (lower classes) · sl masa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · gl masa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · fi joukko (large body of individuals) · is massi (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · nn masse (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ru ма́сса (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · tr kitle (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · sh маса (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · lv masas (lower classes) · ml ദ്രവ്യമാനം (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · vi khối lượng (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · mk маса (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · fi massa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · it massa (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · mg lamesa (lower classes) · pt monte (large quantity; sum) · be ма́са (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · el μάζα (large quantity; sum) · sv massa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ast masa (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · bg ма́си (lower classes) · ja 質量 (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · lt masė (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · nl massa (pharmacy: medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump) · ms jisim (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ht mas (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · et mass (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · km ម៉ាស (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · mi papatipu (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · nb masse (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ca massa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · sw mshikano (large quantity; sum) · bg ма́са (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · sl masa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · cs váha (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · tr kütle (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · cmn 質量 /质量 (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · br tolz (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · nl massa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · kk масса (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · lv masa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · cs většina (principal part) · fr masse (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ja 荷重 (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · cmn 質量 /质量 (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · fa توده (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · tl bugat (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ota ییغین (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · sh masa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · da vægt (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · pt massa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · pt massas (lower classes) · ru ма́сса (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · ro mase (large body of individuals) · mg ambangony (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · tr ağırlık (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ko 질량 (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · tr kitle (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · nn masse (large body of individuals) · ja 重量 (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · it massa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · bn ভর (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · uz massa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · mk маса (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · es masa (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · pt plebe (lower classes) · it massa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · sq masë (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · az kütlə (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · fi massa (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · tr kütle (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · it massa (large quantity; sum) · nl hoeveelheid (large quantity; sum) · mi papatipu (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · fa جرم (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · mk маса (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · ur کمیت (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · eu masa (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · sk hmotnosť (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · nb masse (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · hy զանգված (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · nl massa (bulk; magnitude; body; size) · fo massi (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ru ма́сса (pharmacy: medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump) · ky масса (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ro masă (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ast masa (large quantity; sum) · ro masă (quantity of matter cohering together to make one body) · fi massa (pharmacy: medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump) · grc ὄγκος (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · bg голямо количество (large quantity; sum) · th มวลชน (large body of individuals) · ko 질량 (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · tr kütle (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · mk маса (bodybuilding: excess body mass) · fi massa (bodybuilding: excess body mass) · bg ма́са (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains) · ast masa (large body of individuals) · nl meerderheid (principal part) · it massa (medicine: palpable or visible abnormal globular structure) · hu tömeg (physics: quantity of matter which a body contains)
In late Middle English (circa 1400) as masse in the sense of "lump, quantity of matter", from Anglo-Norman masse, in Old French attested from the 11th century, via late Latin massa (“lump, dough”), from Ancient Greek μᾶζα (mâza, “barley-cake, lump (of dough)”). The Greek noun may be derived from the verb μάσσω (mássō, “to knead”), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European *maǵ- (“to oil, knead”), although this is uncertain. Doublet of masa.
The sense of "a large number or quantity" arises circa 1580. The scientific sense is from 1687 (as Latin massa) in the works of Isaac Newton, with the first English use (as mass) occurring in 1704.
Meanings
(ergative) To form or collect into a mass; to form into a collective body; to assemble.
Every bend on the hill had acted like a funnel to mass them together in this peculiar way. 1857, Edward Henry Nolan, The Illustrated History of the War against Russia, Parts 93-111, page 432:
Where there is too great a repetition of forms, light and shade will break them up or mass them together. 1869, H. P. Robinson, Pictorial Effect in Photography: Being Hints on Composition and Chiariscuro for Photographers:
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. 1829, William Burke, John Macnee, Trial of William Burke and Helen M'Dougal: Before the High Court of Judiciary, William Hare:
hu összehord (form or collect into a mass) · fi tehdä massa (form or collect into a mass) · nl samennemen (form or collect into a mass) · nl samenhopen (form or collect into a mass) · hu összegyűjt (form or collect into a mass) · fi kerätä (form or collect into a mass) · fi kasata (form or collect into a mass) · bg струпам (form or collect into a mass) · mk насо́бира (form or collect into a mass) · nl ophopen (form or collect into a mass) · mi ngahue (form or collect into a mass) · bg струпвам (form or collect into a mass)
From Middle English messe, masse, from Old English mæsse (“the mass, church festival”) and Old French messe, from Vulgar Latin *messa (“Eucharist, dismissal”), from Late Latin missa, noun use of feminine past participle of classical Latin mittere (“to send”), from ite, missa est (“go, (the assembly) is dismissed”), reanalyzed as "go, [that] is the missa", last words of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.
Compare Dutch mis (“mass”), German Messe (“mass”), Danish messe (“mass”), Swedish mässa (“mass; expo”), Icelandic messa (“mass”). More at mission.
Meanings
The Eucharist, now especially in Roman Catholicism.
Celebration of the Eucharist.
(broadly) The main kind of church service, in some denominations.
She went to mass every Sunday for many years, and when she retired, she took to going on some weekdays, too.
(as the Mass, usually) The sacrament of the Eucharist.
el λειτουργία (religion: Eucharist) · sh mȉsa (musical setting of parts of the mass) · cy offeren (religion: Eucharist) · be ме́са (religion: Eucharist) · pt missa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · pt eucaristia (religion: Eucharist) · uk ме́са (religion: Eucharist) · it messa (religion: Eucharist) · id misa (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · fi messu (religion: Eucharist) · sl maša (religion: Eucharist) · nl mis (musical setting of parts of the mass) · pl msza (religion: Eucharist) · af mis (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · fr messe (religion: Eucharist) · gl misa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · gd aifreann (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · eu meza (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · fi messu (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · lld mëssa (religion: Eucharist) · gd aifreann (musical setting of parts of the mass) · st mese (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · lv mise (religion: Eucharist) · mi miha (religion: Eucharist) · af mis (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · ko 미사 (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ga Aifreann (musical setting of parts of the mass) · et missa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · bg ме́са (religion: Eucharist) · sh миса (religion: Eucharist) · es misa (religion: Eucharist) · sq meshë (religion: Eucharist) · ga Aifreann (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · sh mȉsa (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · cy offeren (musical setting of parts of the mass) · is messa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ka მესა (religion: Eucharist) · de Messe (religion: Eucharist) · uk ме́са (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · hu mise (musical setting of parts of the mass) · es misa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · st mese (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · dsb mša (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · cmn 彌撒 /弥撒 (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · twf mę̀soʼóna (religion: Eucharist) · dsb namša (religion: Eucharist) · ro misă (musical setting of parts of the mass) · et missa (religion: Eucharist) · bg ме́са (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ca missa (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · id misa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · bg меса (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · de Messe (musical setting of parts of the mass) · mk миса (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · sk omša (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ca missa (religion: Eucharist) · pl msza (musical setting of parts of the mass) · sw misa (religion: Eucharist) · cy offeren (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · de Messe (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · dsb mša (musical setting of parts of the mass) · lv mise (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · sv mässa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · sh миса (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · hu mise (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · cs mše (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · da messe (religion: Eucharist) · dsb mša (religion: Eucharist) · id misa (religion: Eucharist) · sv mässa (religion: Eucharist) · sl maša (musical setting of parts of the mass) · nl mis (religion: Eucharist) · cs mše (religion: Eucharist) · ca missa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ru обе́дня (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · eo meso (religion: Eucharist) · la missa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ro misă (religion: Eucharist) · nl mis (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · vi thánh lễ (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · af mis (religion: Eucharist) · be імша́ (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · hu mise (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · gl misa (religion: Eucharist) · pl msza (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ro misă (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · sq meshë (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · sh mȉsa (religion: Eucharist) · tl misa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · dsb namša (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · fi messu (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · st mese (religion: Eucharist) · ga Aifreann (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · dsb namša (musical setting of parts of the mass) · bg ме́са (musical setting of parts of the mass) · sh mȉsa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · cmn 彌撒 /弥撒 (religion: Eucharist) · gl comunión (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · be імша́ (religion: Eucharist) · de Messe (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · hu mise (religion: Eucharist) · ga Aifreann (religion: Eucharist) · fr messe (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · gd aifreann (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ru ме́сса (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · dsb mša (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · el λειτουργία (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ko 미사 (religion: Eucharist) · sv mässa (musical setting of parts of the mass) · sv mässa (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · ro misă (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ca missa (musical setting of parts of the mass) · vi thánh lễ (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · pt comunhão (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · tl misa (religion: Eucharist) · eu meza (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · nl mis (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · gd aifreann (religion: Eucharist) · mt quddiesa (religion: Eucharist) · pt missa (musical setting of parts of the mass) · mk миса (religion: Eucharist) · sl maša (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · mt quddiesa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · ru ме́сса (religion: Eucharist) · dsb namša (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · cy offeren (religion: sacrament of the Eucharist) · la missa (religion: Eucharist) · ar قُدَّاس (religion: Eucharist) · ja ミサ (religion: Eucharist) · ja ミサ (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · nrf mêsse (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · nb messe (religion: Eucharist) · it messa (religion: celebration of the Eucharist) · vi thánh lễ (religion: Eucharist) · sk omša (religion: Eucharist)
From Middle English messe, masse, from Old English mæsse (“the mass, church festival”) and Old French messe, from Vulgar Latin *messa (“Eucharist, dismissal”), from Late Latin missa, noun use of feminine past participle of classical Latin mittere (“to send”), from ite, missa est (“go, (the assembly) is dismissed”), reanalyzed as "go, [that] is the missa", last words of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.
Compare Dutch mis (“mass”), German Messe (“mass”), Danish messe (“mass”), Swedish mässa (“mass; expo”), Icelandic messa (“mass”). More at mission.
Meanings
(intransitive, obsolete) To celebrate mass.
massing priests [1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
massed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
massed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
masses
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
massing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
Translations (7)
nl vieren (celebrate Mass) · es misar (celebrate Mass) · pt missar (celebrate Mass) · nl misvieren (celebrate Mass) · fi pitää messu (celebrate Mass) · sl maševati (celebrate Mass) · is messa (celebrate Mass)