mace Hear it!

mace¹ Definition

mace (mās)

noun

    1. a heavy medieval war club, often with a spiked, metal head
    2. any similar weapon
    1. a staff used as a symbol of authority by certain officials
    2. macebearer

Etymology: ME < OFr masse < VL *mattea, a club < L *matea < IE base *mat-, a hoe, club > mattock

mace² Definition

mace (mās)

noun

a spice, usually ground, made from the dried outer covering of the nutmeg

Etymology: ME, assumed as sing. of macis, mace < OFr < ML, prob. scribal error for L macir < Gr makir, a fragrant resin from India

Mace Definition

Mace (mās)

a chemical compound, prepared for use in aerosol containers, that has the combined effect of a tear gas and a nerve gas, temporarily stunning its victims

Etymology: < mace

noun

such a compound, or a container of it

transitive verb Maced, Mac·ing

to spray with Mace

mace Synonyms

mace

n.

  1. A weapon or symbol of authority

    staff, baton, scepter, verge; see club 3, stick.

  2. A compound

    Chemical Mace (trademark), fear gas, nerve gas; see gas 3, weapon 1.

mace Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • carry: He is the warrior deity carrying the hundred knotted mace from whom all demons flee in fear.
  • hold: Odo was present at the Battle of Hastings and is shown on the tapestry holding a mace and rallying troops.
  • include: All Mayors will have a chain of office, but some will have other insignia including a mace or robes of office.
  • bear: The Esquire Bedell bears the mace in the Queenâs academic procession.
  • use: If using blade mace, there is no need to grate it: just crush between your fingers and sprinkle it in.
  • wield: He sank onto a couch, then looked up to see the battle crazed glare of an Iranian soldier wielding a heavy mace.

Adjective modifier

  • ceremonial: The city's ceremonial mace, now on display in the Guildhall Museum, dates from that year.
  • great: The marsh is dominated by soft rush and there are small stands of great reed mace.
  • medieval: In silhouette, the ensemble is akin to a huge medieval mace.
  • new: This ceremony is also special because it marks the first public outing for a new mace.
  • spiked: There are less noble weapons that you can wield, such as an executioner's ax or spiked maces.
  • silver: Two silver maces dating back to 1680 are still used at every Boro Council meeting.

Modifies a noun

  • bearer: The Mayoral party, led in by the mace bearer, was a spectacular sight as they took their places on the dais.
  • head: Their purpose is unclear but finds of human bones and stone mace heads suggest ritual offerings.

Noun used with modifier

  • reed: We also came across a patch of reed mace going to seed.
  • silver: At the same time he also gave the City its magnificent silver gilt mace.
  • ground: Crush the mace blades ( or ground mace ) and add them to the pan.
  • city: However during the talks the Lord Mayor of London attacked Wat Tyler with the city mace.
  • blade: If using blade mace, there is no need to grate it: just crush between your fingers and sprinkle it in.
  • iron: Then I turned to where Weena lay beside my iron mace.
mace Quotes

Take away that fool's baubleöthe Mace.

—Cromwell, Oliver

He resolved to lead Britain and her fading empire in one last great struggle†to arm the nation, not only with weapons but also with the mace of honor, creating in every English breast a soul beneath the ribs of death. 544

—Manchester,William Raymond

An absolute and unlimited right over any object of property would be the right to commit nearly every crime.If Ihad sucha right over thestick Iamaboutto cut, I might employ it as a mace to knock down the passengers, or I might convert it into a sceptre as an emblem of royalty, or into an idol to offend the national religion.

—Bentham,Jeremy

Browse dictionary entries near mace

  1. MacDowell
  2. Macdonald
  3. MacDiarmid
  4. maccaboy
  5. Maccabees
  6. Maccabean
  7. Maccabaeus
  8. Macc
  9. Macbeth
  10. macaw
  1. macebearer
  2. Macedon
  3. Macedonia
  4. Macedonian
  5. Maceió
  6. macer
  7. macerate
  8. mach
  9. Mach number
  10. macher