message

[mes-ij]

noun

1. a communication containing some information, news, advice, request, or the like, sent by messenger, telephone, email, or other means.

2. an official communication, as from a chief executive to a legislative body.

   the president's message to Congress.

3. Digital Technology.,  a post or reply on an online message board.

4. the inspired utterance of a prophet or sage.

5. the point, moral, or meaning of a gesture, utterance, novel, motion picture, etc.

6. Computers.,  a warning, permission, etc., communicated by the system or software to the user.

   an error message;

   a message to allow blocked content.

verb (used without object)

1. to send a message, especially an electronic message.

verb (used with object)

1. to send (a person) a message.

2. to send as a message.

message

/ ˈmɛsɪdʒ /

noun

1. a communication, usually brief, from one person or group to another

2. an implicit meaning or moral, as in a work of art

3. a formal communiqué

4. an inspired communication of a prophet or religious leader

5. a mission; errand

6. (plural) shopping

   going for the messages

7. informal,  to understand what is meant

verb

1. (tr) to send as a message, esp to signal (a plan, etc)

Other Word Forms

• intermessage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of message¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin miss(us) “sent” (past participle of mittere “to send”) + -āticum -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of message¹

C13: from Old French, from Vulgar Latin missāticum (unattested) something sent, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere to send

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get the message, to understand or comprehend, especially to infer the correct meaning from circumstances, hints, etc..

   If we don't invite him to the party, maybe he'll get the message.

see get the message.

Example Sentences

Teen accounts have also been restricted to include direct messaging only with people they follow or are already connected to and automatic muting during nighttime hours.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Ms Wandelt claimed to be Madeleine and pursued the McCann family with messages, calls, and visits, including turning up at their home and demanding a DNA test, the court has heard.

Read more on BBC

On social media, he said “the message is clear: if you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But that’s not the message that running backs coach Anthony Jones has sent to his group.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Our message is clear: There will be no place for outlaws or those who threaten the security of citizens," he said.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• directive 
• information 
• letter 
• memo 
• memorandum 
• news 
• note 
• notice 
• report 
• word