Mass

Meaning

Noun

1. The principal liturgical service of the Church, encompassing both a scripture service (Liturgy of the Word) and a eucharistic service (Liturgy of the Eucharist), which includes the consecration and oblation (offering) of the host and wine.
2. A similar ceremony offered by a number of Christian churches.
3. A musical composition set to portions, or all, of the Mass.

Name

1. Abbreviation of Massachusetts.
2. Alternative form of Mas

Synonyms

church

⛪

Communion

Eucharist rite

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmæs/

Etymology

From Middle English messe, from Old English mæsse and Old French messe, both from Late Latin missa, from Latin mittō (“to send, dismiss”), compare French 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 the words: "Ite, missa est", 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. Compare Christmas, Lammas, missal. Doublet of missa.