[ma-see-ter] 
| a short, thick, masticatory muscle, the action of which assists in closing the jaws by raising the mandible or lower jaw. |
r, var. of masētr chewer, masseter, equiv. to masē-, var. s. of masâsthai to chew + -tēr agentive suffix
[mas-i-ter-ik] , adjective | mas·se·ter (mə-sē'tər, mā-) n. A thick muscle in the cheek that closes the jaws during chewing. [New Latin massētēr, from Greek masētēr, massētēr, from masāsthai, to chew.] mas'se·ter'ic (mās'ĭ-těr'ĭk) adj. |