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mare

mare¹ definition

mare (mer)

noun

a fully mature female horse, mule, donkey, burro, etc.; specif., a female horse that has reached the age of five

Etymology: ME < OE mere, fem. of mearh, akin to Ger mähre, jade, prob. < IE base *marko-, horse, seen only in Gmc & Celt (Ir marc, Welsh march, horse)

mare² definition

mare (mä′rā′, -rē′)

noun pl. maria ma′·ria (mä′rē ə, mar′ē ə)

a sea
one of several vast, dark flat areas on the moon, Mercury, or Mars

Etymology: L, sea < IE base *mori > Goth marei, sea, OE mere, sea, lake, Welsh mor, sea

mare³ definition

mare (mer)

noun

Obsolete an evil spirit once thought to produce nightmares

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Ger dial. mahr, ON mar < IE *mora, incubus < base *mer-, to rub, seize > Gr marainein, to quench, OIr meirb, lifeless, OE mearu, soft

Mare definition

Mare (mer)

island at the N end of San Francisco Bay, Calif.: site of a U.S. navy yard

Etymology: transl. of Sp Isla de la Yegua: said to be for a mare that swam to the island and joined a herd of elk