When did mass

[AskingQuestionsAllTheTime]

become amass? In the verb usage meaning get together in a big group, not the noun Catholic mass or a mass of information.

I am thinking of reports that the Russian troops are amassing on the border of Ukraine. I am reasonably certain that this never used to be said: troops massed in places before. But now they amass instead.

Clouds used to mass on the horizon; do they now amass?

It's two completely different words. A quick Google will give you lots of examples.

It's not that I think amass doesn't exist; it does. And I agree: it is a completely different word from mass.

I had not previously met it being used to mean "these people got themselves together in a large group", only to mean "these people got a large amount of something together" ; one for assemble and the other for accumulate. So you would amass evidence, but have a mass gathering. There are probably technical words for this but I don't know them.

Hmm. I think mass as a verb has always been rare. Clouds gathered on the horizon.
I think what you mean is that amass should always be transitive
Eg amass evidence

And mass intransitive
Eg troops massed on the border
You are probably right. I’m off to check.

That seems possible. If so, thank you!

Yes. Examples of ‘amass’ in the Shorter Oxford are transitive and ‘mass’ intransitive and mostly referring to troops.

That does seem to settle it for me. Thanks again.