| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| mastiff |
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| SYLLABICATION: | mas·tiff |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  m s t f |
| NOUN: | Any of an ancient breed of large strong dogs, probably originating in Asia and having a short, often fawn-colored coat. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English mastif, alteration (perhaps influenced by Old French mestif, mongrel) of Old French mastin, from Vulgar Latin *(canis) m nsu t nus, tame (dog), from Latin mnsutus, past participle of mnsuscere, to tame : manus, hand; see man-2 in Appendix I + suscere, to accustom; see s(w)e- in Appendix I.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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