First recorded in 1570–80 as mas; marse was first recorded in 1765–75; shortening and alteration of master ( def. )
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The two thalami touch in the center in most brains as the massa intermedia, which is surrounded by the third ventricle.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
And the old massa who lives there fits the movie title too: Nikita Khrushchev, still hale at 70 but "retired" to his rent-free government dacha outside Moscow on a pension of $330 a month.
From Time Magazine Archive
“My massa thought so, ma’am,” she said quietly.
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
Dere massa give dem supplies and let dem work a piece of land and they give him half de crop.
From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume XVI, Texas Narratives, Part 4 by United States. Work Projects Administration
Den de massa, he smile lak I ain't done nothin' wrong.
From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume I, Alabama Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration
“To be a just war it must be a defense against another who actively wages war, which is what the Holy Father actually said,” Massa said in a statement following Vance’s comments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026
Bishop James Massa, the top doctrinal official of the U.S. bishops’ conference, said the pope is upholding just war theory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026
Hamilton, who came third, increased his championship lead over Massa to seven points - and subsequently won the title by a single point.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025
Another inspires a short rhapsody detailing the six-figure worth of a Richard Mille Felipe Massa automatic chronograph with a rose gold skeleton and a flyback function.
From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2025
Massa Prayder and his boys keep ’em, and keep ’em all separate too.”
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
