massacre
UK[ˈmæsəkə(r)]US[ˈmæsəkər]
n
the killing of a large number of people, especially in a cruel or violent way.
v
to kill a large number of people, especially in a cruel or violent way.
Etymology
the word 'massacre' entered english in the late 16th century from middle french, where it meant 'slaughter, butchery, carnage'. the french term is believed to derive from the old french word 'macacre' or 'macecle', meaning 'slaughterhouse' or 'butchery'. its ultimate origin is obscure but may be connected to the latin 'macellum', meaning 'provisions store' or 'butcher's shop'. the semantic journey thus moved from a place associated with the killing of animals for food to the brutal, large-scale killing of people, a meaning fully established by the time of its adoption into english.
Analysis
the word is a loanword adopted as a single unit from french. it is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes in modern english based on its current spelling.
Examples
the historical records describe the massacre of the entire village.
the invading army was accused of massacring civilians.
the event is remembered as one of the worst massacres of the 20th century.