Killed a large number of people brutally and violently, often in one event.
From Old French 'macacre,' possibly from Hebrew 'maziqa' (wound), though the origin is uncertain. The word entered English in the 16th century to describe large-scale killings, particularly of religious groups.
The word gained prominence during European religious conflicts—the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572 France killed thousands and became a historical turning point that changed how nations viewed religious tolerance.
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