2. To frolic or disport in disquise; to make a pretentious show of
being what one is not.
A freak took an ass in the head, and he goes into the woods,
masquerading up and down in a lion's skin.
L'Estrange.
Mas`quer*ade", v. t. To conceal with masks; to disguise. "To masquerade
vice." Killingbeck.
Mas`quer*ad"er (?), n. One who masquerades; a person wearing a mask;
one disguised.
Mass (?), n. [OE. masse, messe, AS. mæsse. LL. missa, from L. mittere,
missum, to send, dismiss: cf. F. messe. In the ancient churches, the
public services at which the catechumens were permitted to be present
were called missa catechumenorum, ending with the reading of the
Gospel. Then they were dismissed with these words : "Ite, missa est"
[sc. ecclesia], the congregation is dismissed. After that the sacrifice
proper began. At its close the same words were said to those who
remained. So the word gave the name of Mass to the sacrifice in the
Catholic Church. See Missile, and cf. Christmas, Lammas, Mess a dish,
Missal.]
1. (R. C. Ch.) The sacrifice in the sacrament of the Eucharist, or the
consecration and oblation of the host.
2. (Mus.) The portions of the Mass usually set to music, considered as
a musical composition; -- namely, the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the
Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei, besides sometimes an Offertory and the
Benedictus.
Canon of the Mass. See Canon. -- High Mass, Mass with incense, music,
the assistance of a deacon, subdeacon, etc. -- Low Mass, Mass which is
said by the priest throughout, without music. -- Mass bell, the sanctus
bell. See Sanctus. -- Mass book, the missal or Roman Catholic service
book.
Mass (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Massed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Massing.] To
celebrate Mass. [Obs.] Hooker.
Mass, n. [OE. masse, F. masse, L. massa; akin to Gr. &?; a barley cake,
fr. &?; to knead. Cf. Macerate.]
1. A quantity of matter cohering together so as to make one body, or an
aggregation of particles or things which collectively make one body or
quantity, usually of considerable size; as, a mass of ore, metal, sand,
or water.
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.
Sir I. Newton.
A deep mass of continual sea is slower stirred To rage.
Savile.
2. (Phar.) A medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous
lump, of consistency suitable for making pills; as, blue mass.