Hypertext Webster Gateway: "massacre"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Massacre \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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Massacre \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.
m['a]itan.]
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
massacre
n : the wanton killing of many people [syn: {mass murder}]
v : kill a large number of people indiscriminately; "The Hutus
massacred the Tutsis in Rwanda" [syn: {slaughter}, {mow
down}]
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