Mass

 
Pronunciation: /mas/

noun

  • the celebration of the Christian Eucharist, especially in the Roman Catholic Church: we went to Mass
  • a particular celebration of the Eucharist: he pontificated at three Christmas Masses
  • a musical setting of parts of the liturgy used in the Mass: Bach’s B minor Mass

Phrases

hear Mass

attend a celebration of the Mass without taking communion (especially as the former usual practice of lay Catholics).

Origin:

Old English mæsse, from ecclesiastical Latin missa, from Latin miss- 'dismissed', from mittere, perhaps from the last words of the service, Ite, missa est 'Go, it is the dismissal'