What is massif? How to use in English

The word "massif" originated from the French language, specifically from the Old French word "maseif" meaning "massive" or "large quantity." In the 14th century, the word took on the meaning of "group of mountains," which made its way into the French vocabulary through the old French word "massivare" meaning "to gather together into a large mass." The usage of the word "massif" to describe mountainous regions gained popularity in the late 19th century, particularly after the rise of alpinism, a sport that involved climbing mountains. The term was adopted into English in the early 20th century, through French-English borrowings, to replace the previous term "massive," which had a more general meaning. In geography, a massif is seen as a group of closely grouped mountains that are integrally connected to each other, forming a single structural unit. The term is also used to describe a large piece of rock that is part of a mountain, hill, or valley, whether mountainous or flat. As such, the word "massif" in geography carries connotations of grandeur, enormity, and sublimity, thus capturing the distinctive features of mountainous landscapes.