masterly
Executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill; masterful.
Adjective
- Executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill; masterful.
- Her years of experience enabled her to render a masterly performance.
- He made confeſsion of you, / And gaue you ſuch a maſterly report / For art and exerciſe in your defence, / And for your Rapier moſt eſpeciall, / That he cride out t' would be a ſight indeed / If one could match you;...
- H'as a ſtrange cunning tongue, why do you ſigh Sir? How maſterly he turns himſelf to catch me? - c. 1612–1630, John Fletcher, George Chapman, Ben Jonson, Philip Massinger, “The Bloody Brother; or, Rollo. A Tragedy.”, in...
Synonyms: maestrolike masterlike masterous able artful habile accomplished adept adroit apt capable competent consummate conversant crack crafty deft dexterous expert facile fluent gain handy masterful
- Like a master; arbitrary; domineering, imperious.
- The godlie counſels of Salomon and Ieſus the ſonne of Sirach, for ſharpe kepinge in, and bridleinge of youth, are ment rather, for fatherlie correction, then maſterlie beating, rather for maners, than for learninge: for...
- Many times fear is a profitable and an active ſervant, if it do not dominere and grow maſterlie. - 1653, Arthur Wilson, “[A Letter to My Lord Monteagle [William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle]]”, in The History of Great...
- Mrs. Muskrat had been somewhat timid about displaying these gold teeth. The fashion had not yet reached Green Meadows, but her husband had urged her to do it. "Nonsense, girle," he had said in his masterly manner, "I've...
Synonyms: despotic overbearing
Origin
PIE word *méǵh₂s From Middle English maisterli, from maister (“leader, ruler; high official; official in charge of a place; person in control; employer; owner; schoolmaster, teacher; scholar, sage; holder of a master's degree; religious teacher; master craftsman; expert; magician; social superior; husband; lover; Jesus Christ; a god; male stud animal”) + -li (suffix forming adjectives). Maister is derived from Old English mæġester (“master”) and Old French maistre (“master”) (modern French maître), both from Latin magister (“teacher; master”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s (“big, great”). The English word is analysable as master + -ly.
Forms
Derived
Adverb
- In a masterful manner; competently, masterfully.
- At length the sound of a flute broke upon mine ear; it was not played masterly, but the tones were very sweet; and what is more correct, perhaps, they harmonized with my feelings. - 1818 January, “The Flute-player.—A...
Origin
From Middle English maisterli (“artistically; skilfully; in the manner of a conqueror or master; overconfidently”), from maister (see etymology 1) + -li (suffix forming adverbs); analysable as master + -ly (suffix forming adverbs).