Mas"sa*cre , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Massacred (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Massacring (?).]
[Cf. F. massacrer. See Massacre, n.] 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.
If James should
be pleased to massacre them all, as
Maximian had massacred the
Theban legion.
Macaulay.
Mas"sa*cre (?), n. [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. máitan.]
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. [Obs.]
Shak.
Syn. -- 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.
Hear it pronounced