message
message
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling for "message"
IPA: /ˈmɛsɪdʒ/
Breakdown by Syllable
mes:
/m/ - bilabial nasal
/ɛ/ - mid-front vowel, unrounded
/s/ - alveolar fricative
ɪdʒ:
/ɪ/ - high front vowel, unrounded
/dʒ/ - voiced palato-alveolar affricate
Word Form Variations
Message is primarily used as a noun.
Noun Forms:
Singular: message
Plural: messages
Verb Form:
While less common, "message" can also be used as a verb, meaning to send a message to someone.
Past Tense: messaged
Present Participle: messaging
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A piece of information or news communicated to someone.
Synonyms: communication, notification, dispatch, report
Antonyms: silence, secrecy, obscurity
Verb
Definition: To convey a message to someone; to communicate.
Synonyms: communicate, inform, signal, transmit
Antonyms: conceal, withhold, suppress
Adjective (informal)
Definition: Extremely important or urgent.
Synonyms: crucial, vital, critical, essential
Antonyms: unimportant, trivial, inconsequential
Examples of Use
Noun
Books: "The message in the bottle was clear: help." (Any adventure novel with a shipwreck theme)
Newspapers: "The president's message of unity resonated with the nation." (The New York Times)
Online Publications: "Social media platforms are powerful tools for spreading messages." (Social Media Today)
Entertainment: "The film's message about environmental conservation was impactful." (Film review in a magazine)
Public Discourse: "The politician's core message was economic growth." (News broadcast)
Verb
Books: "He messaged her repeatedly without a response." (Contemporary romance novel)
Newspapers: "The company messaged its employees about the upcoming layoffs." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications: "You can message your friends directly through the app." (Tech blog)
Entertainment: "The characters messaged each other cryptic clues throughout the episode." (TV series script)
Public Discourse: "The government messaged the public about the importance of vaccination." (News conference)
Adjective (informal)
Online Publications: "This is message important; please read it now." (Social media post)
Entertainment: "The message urgent call interrupted the show." (TV drama)
Public Discourse: "It's message important to vote in the upcoming election." (Political campaign slogan)
Note: The informal use of "message" as an adjective is less common in formal writing but is prevalent in casual communication, especially in digital platforms.
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Message
"The medium is the message." - Marshall McLuhan (Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man)
"Life is my message." - Mahatma Gandhi
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (often paraphrased as "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing")
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" - Martin Luther King Jr. (A Dream Deferred)
"The greatest gift is the ability to inspire others to do what they never thought they could." - Unknown (often attributed to various people)
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Lao Tzu (Tao Te Ching)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." - Albert Einstein
Etymology
The Story of the Word "Message"
Message comes from a long journey of words. It started as a Latin word, "mittere," which means "to send." Over time, this word changed and became "missaticum" in Latin, then "message" in French. Finally, we borrowed it into English.
So, when you say "message," you're really saying something about something that was "sent." It's like a little package of information or news that travels from one person to another.
The first time people used "message" in English was around the year 1300, and it meant something like "news sent by a messenger." So, you can imagine a person riding a horse, carrying a message from one castle to another!
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Message
Common Phrases
Get the message: Understand the meaning of something.
Take a message: Receive a message for someone else.
Leave a message: Record a message for someone who is absent.
Message board: A place for posting messages.
Related Idioms (using synonyms or similar concepts)
Get the drift: Understand the general idea (similar to "get the message")
Read between the lines: Understand the hidden meaning (related to interpreting a message)
Spread the word: Tell many people about something (similar to spreading a message)
Original Phrases
To carry a message of hope: To convey optimism.
To deliver a powerful message: To communicate a strong and impactful idea.
A mixed message: Conflicting or unclear communication.
Why fewer idioms with "message"?
While "message" is a common word, it's primarily a concrete noun, referring to a specific piece of information. Many idioms are more figurative and rely on vivid imagery or metaphorical language. This is why we find more idioms using verbs or adjectives than nouns like "message."
Posts Related to Message
Source Information
Definition of message from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.