masonicadj.
/məˈsɒnɪk/, U.S. /məˈsɑnɪk/ 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of Freemasons or Freemasonry. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social relations > an association, society, or organization > secret society > [adjective] > relating to freemasonry
masonic1761
Freemasonic1788
1761 W. Auld App. to Masons Pocket Compan. 52 Truth, as it is a divine attribute, so is it the foundation of all Masonic virtues.
1786 in Catal. Prints: Polit. & Personal Satires (Brit. Mus.) (1938) VI. 332 A Masonic Anecdote.
1797 Encycl. Brit. X. 625/1 Some scrupulous brethren, who were alarmed at the publication of the masonic constitutions.
1810 Duke of Wellington Let. 4 Jan. in Dispatches (1836) V. 397 I beg..that the meeting of the masonic lodges in their corps, and the wearing of all masonic emblems and all masonic processions may be discontinued during the time they may be in Portugal.
1831 T. De Quincey Dr. Parr in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. May 769/2 This sublime masonic tie of brotherhood we ourselves possess, we members of Christendom.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 145 Cheap silver penholders and snuff-boxes, and a masonic star.
1879 R. L. Stevenson Trav. with Donkey (1886) 18 [He] finally taught me the true cry or masonic word of donkey-drivers.
1916 F. Rider N.Y. City 438 East of the Masonic Temple, facing the abandoned cathedral,..is the recently finished Queen of All Saints' Chapel.
1936 ‘R. Hyde’ Passport to Hell i. 10 Chinese grocery-shops, masonic clubs, and pakapoo saloons.
1980 Amer. Speech 55 221 There is the priestly language of doctors, psychologists, and art critics, which can be used to impress and to give masonic signals to other initiates.
2008 J. A. M. Snoek in A. Heidle & J. A. M. Snoek Women's Agency & Rituals Mixed & Female Masonic Orders Introd. 15 With ca. 400 lodges and 11,000 members, it is the largest women-only masonic order in the world.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or constructing with stone > [adjective] > made or built of stone
stone1420
masoneda1625
masonic1810
masonry1875
1810 A. Boswell Edinburgh 32 The City grows and spreads on every side, In all the honour of masonic pride.
1821 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto V lxiii. 166 The masonic folly Of those..Who give themselves to architecture wholly.
1895 S. R. Hole Little Tour Amer. 308 The Washington Obelisk, said to be the highest masonic structure in the world.
Derivatives
maˈsonically adv. in the manner of Freemasons; according to the rituals of Freemasonry.
ΚΠ
1772 W. Preston Illustr. Masonry 168 East and west are terms peculiar to their society, and when masonically adopted, very intelligible to the fraternity, as they refer to certain forms and established customs among themselves.
1852 R. Morris Lights & Shadows Freemasonry 262 My husband was a mason, buried masonically, resting under a tombstone covered with masonic emblems.
1919 M. Beerbohm Seven Men 91 We mounted and rode along together... Smiled to masonically by the passing bicyclists, and smiling masonically to them in return.
1999 Guardian (Nexis) 24 Jan. 21 For a free quote, fill in a detailed questionnaire; it even asks, rather masonically, if you are ‘affiliated with the travel industry’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1761