Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • A state of the northeast United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies, it was the site of the first successful English settlement in New England when the Pilgrims of the Mayflower founded Plymouth in 1620. Governed by the Massachusetts Bay Company from 1629 until 1684, the colony was a leader in the move for independence from Great Britain and the site of the first battles of the Revolutionary War in 1775. Massachusetts ratified the United States Constitution in 1788. Boston is the capital and the largest city.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A state of the United States of America. Capital: Boston.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a member of the Algonquian people who formerly lived around Massachusetts Bay
  • noun a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies
  • noun the Algonquian language of the Massachuset
  • noun one of the British colonies that formed the United States

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Algonquian *Massachusetts (“at the large hill”). A reference to the indigenous people who lived around Massachusetts Bay and at Great Blue Hill.

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Examples

  • MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: We were unable to deal with and didn't have any pretense that we would somehow be able to change health care costs in Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript Oct 28, 2009 2009

  • MICHAEL WIDMER, MASSACHUSETTS TAXPAYERS FOUNDATION: And there is this wide spread assumption that is now treated as fact that it's breaking the bank in Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript Aug 20, 2009 2009

  • MICHAEL WIDMER, MASSACHUSETTS TAXPAYERS FOUNDATION: And there is this widespread assumption that is now treated (ph) as back that is breaking the bank in Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript Aug 21, 2009 2009

  • DEVAL PATRICK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Well, Ted -- Larry, it's been just a long and sad day here in Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript Aug 26, 2009 2009

  • CLAIRE (ph), MASSACHUSETTS (via telephone): Hi, this is Claire (ph) from Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript Apr 7, 2009 2009

  • MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: We were unable to deal with and didn't have any pretense that we would somehow be able to change health care costs in Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript Oct 28, 2009 2009

  • MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: ... were unable to deal with and didn't have any pretense that we would somehow be able to change health care costs in Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript Oct 27, 2009 2009

  • EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: We've received an incredible amount of wonderful notes and letters from friends and colleagues in the Senate, and as well as from people here in Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript May 23, 2008 2008

  • EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: We've received an incredible amount of wonderful notes and letters from friends and colleagues from the Senate and as well as from people here in Massachusetts.

    CNN Transcript May 23, 2008 2008

  • MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: Almost 50 yours ago, another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for president, not a Catholic running for president.

    CNN Transcript Mar 18, 2008 2008

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