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HOME | Definition of master (MASTER, Master)


    Master \Mast"er\, n. (Naut.)
    A vessel having (so many) masts; -- used only in compounds;
    as, a two-master.
    [1913 Webster]

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48


    Master \Mas"ter\ (m[.a]s"t[~e]r), n. [OE. maistre, maister, OF.
    maistre, mestre, F. ma[^i]tre, fr. L. magister, orig. a
    double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr.
    me`gas. Cf. Maestro, Magister, Magistrate, Magnitude,
    Major, Mister, Mistress, Mickle.]
    1. A male person having another living being so far subject
    to his will, that he can, in the main, control his or its
    actions; -- formerly used with much more extensive
    application than now.
    (a) The employer of a servant.
    (b) The owner of a slave.
    (c) The person to whom an apprentice is articled.
    (d) A sovereign, prince, or feudal noble; a chief, or one
    exercising similar authority.
    (e) The head of a household.
    (f) The male head of a school or college.
    (g) A male teacher.
    (h) The director of a number of persons performing a
    ceremony or sharing a feast.
    (i) The owner of a docile brute, -- especially a dog or
    horse.
    (j) The controller of a familiar spirit or other
    supernatural being.
    [1913 Webster]

    2. One who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as,
    to be master of one's time. --Shak.
    [1913 Webster]

    Master of a hundred thousand drachms. --Addison.
    [1913 Webster]

    We are masters of the sea. --Jowett
    (Thucyd.).
    [1913 Webster]

    3. One who has attained great skill in the use or application
    of anything; as, a master of oratorical art.
    [1913 Webster]

    Great masters of ridicule. --Macaulay.
    [1913 Webster]

    No care is taken to improve young men in their own
    language, that they may thoroughly understand and be
    masters of it. --Locke.
    [1913 Webster]

    4. A title given by courtesy, now commonly pronounced
    m[i^]ster, except when given to boys; -- sometimes written
    Mister, but usually abbreviated to Mr.
    [1913 Webster]

    5. A young gentleman; a lad, or small boy.
    [1913 Webster]

    Where there are little masters and misses in a
    house, they are impediments to the diversions of the
    servants. --Swift.
    [1913 Webster]

    6. (Naut.) The commander of a merchant vessel; -- usually
    called captain. Also, a commissioned officer in the navy
    ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant; formerly,
    an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under
    the commander, of sailing the vessel.
    [1913 Webster]

    7. A person holding an office of authority among the
    Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person
    holding a similar office in other civic societies.
    [1913 Webster]

    Little masters, certain German engravers of the 16th
    century, so called from the extreme smallness of their
    prints.

    Master in chancery, an officer of courts of equity, who
    acts as an assistant to the chancellor or judge, by
    inquiring into various matters referred to him, and
    reporting thereon to the court.

    Master of arts, one who takes the second degree at a
    university; also, the degree or title itself, indicated by
    the abbreviation M. A., or A. M.

    Master of the horse, the third great officer in the British
    court, having the management of the royal stables, etc. In
    ceremonial cavalcades he rides next to the sovereign.

    Master of the rolls, in England, an officer who has charge
    of the rolls and patents that pass the great seal, and of
    the records of the chancery, and acts as assistant judge
    of the court. --Bouvier. --Wharton.

    Past master,
    (a) one who has held the office of master in a lodge of
    Freemasons or in a society similarly organized.
    (b) a person who is unusually expert, skilled, or
    experienced in some art, technique, or profession; --
    usually used with at or of.

    The old masters, distinguished painters who preceded modern
    painters; especially, the celebrated painters of the 16th
    and 17th centuries.

    To be master of one's self, to have entire self-control;
    not to be governed by passion.

    To be one's own master, to be at liberty to act as one
    chooses without dictation from anybody.
    [1913 Webster]

    Note: Master, signifying chief, principal, masterly,
    superior, thoroughly skilled, etc., is often used
    adjectively or in compounds; as, master builder or
    master-builder, master chord or master-chord, master
    mason or master-mason, master workman or
    master-workman, master mechanic, master mind, master
    spirit, master passion, etc.
    [1913 Webster]

    Throughout the city by the master gate.
    --Chaucer.
    [1913 Webster]

    Master joint (Geol.), a quarryman's term for the more
    prominent and extended joints traversing a rock mass.

    Master key, a key adapted to open several locks differing
    somewhat from each other; figuratively, a rule or
    principle of general application in solving difficulties.


    Master lode (Mining), the principal vein of ore.

    Master mariner, an experienced and skilled seaman who is
    certified to be competent to command a merchant vessel.

    Master sinew (Far.), a large sinew that surrounds the hough
    of a horse, and divides it from the bone by a hollow
    place, where the windgalls are usually seated.

    Master singer. See Mastersinger.

    Master stroke, a capital performance; a masterly
    achievement; a consummate action; as, a master stroke of
    policy.

    Master tap (Mech.), a tap for forming the thread in a screw
    cutting die.

    Master touch.
    (a) The touch or skill of a master. --Pope.
    (b) Some part of a performance which exhibits very
    skillful work or treatment. "Some master touches of
    this admirable piece." --Tatler.

    Master work, the most important work accomplished by a
    skilled person, as in architecture, literature, etc.;
    also, a work which shows the skill of a master; a
    masterpiece.

    Master workman, a man specially skilled in any art,
    handicraft, or trade, or who is an overseer, foreman, or
    employer.
    [1913 Webster]

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48


    Master \Mas"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mastered; p. pr. vb. n.
    Mastering.]
    1. To become the master of; to subject to one's will,
    control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to
    subdue.
    [1913 Webster]

    Obstinacy and willful neglects must be mastered,
    even though it cost blows. --Locke.
    [1913 Webster]

    2. To gain the command of, so as to understand or apply; to
    become an adept in; as, to master a science.
    [1913 Webster]

    3. To own; to posses. [Obs.]
    [1913 Webster]

    The wealth
    That the world masters. --Shak.
    [1913 Webster]

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48


    Master \Mas"ter\, v. i.
    To be skillful; to excel. [Obs.]
    [1913 Webster]

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48


    master
    n 1: an artist of consummate skill; "a master of the violin";
    "one of the old masters" [syn: maestro]
    2: a person who has general authority over others [syn: overlord,
    lord]
    3: a combatant who is able to defeat rivals [syn: victor, superior]
    4: directs the work of other
    5: presiding officer of a school [syn: headmaster, schoolmaster]
    6: an original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which
    copies can be made [syn: master copy, original]
    7: an officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship [syn:
    captain, sea captain, skipper]
    8: someone who holds a master's degree from academic
    institution
    9: an authority qualified to teach apprentices [syn: professional]
    10: key that secures entrance everywhere [syn: passkey, passe-partout,
    master key]
    v 1: be or become completely proficient or skilled in; "She
    mastered Japanese in less than two years" [syn: get the
    hang]
    2: get on top of; deal with successfully; "He overcame his
    shyness" [syn: overcome, get over, subdue, surmount]
    3: have dominance or the power to defeat over; "Her pain
    completely mastered her"; "The methods can master the
    problems" [syn: dominate]
    4: have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of; "Do
    you control these data?" [syn: control]

    WordNet (r) 2.0


    500 Moby Thesaurus words for "master":
    A per se, JA, OD, abecedarian, absorb, academic dean, ace, adept,
    administration, administrator, all-absorbing, amicus curiae,
    ancestors, appreciate, apprehend, apprentice, arch, architect,
    art object, artificer, artisan, artist, artiste, ascendant,
    assessor, assimilate, at the head, attain mastery of, author,
    authority, baccalaureate, baccalaureus, bachelor, banner,
    barmaster, basic, be with one, beat down, become adept in,
    begetter, beginner, bend, beneficiary, best, bestride, big boss,
    big cheese, big wheel, biggest, boatswain, boss, boy, brainchild,
    break, break down, bric-a-brac, bridle, bring low, bring to terms,
    bub, bubba, buck, bud, buddy, builder, capital, captain, cardinal,
    castellan, catch, catch on, central, certified teacher, cestui,
    cestui que trust, cestui que use, champ, champion, chancellor,
    chatelain, chatelaine, check, chief, chief engineer, chief mate,
    chieftain, circuit judge, classic, colt, commandant, commander,
    commanding, composition, comprehend, conceive, conceiver, conquer,
    conquering hero, conqueror, conquistador, constructor, control,
    controller, controlling, copyist, crack, crackerjack, craftsman,
    craftswoman, creation, creator, crowning, crush, cub, dauber,
    daubster, dean, dean of men, dean of women, deck officer,
    deedholder, defeater, degree, design, designer, deviser, dictate,
    dig, digest, director, discoverer, docent, doctor, doctorate,
    domesticize, domiciliate, dominant, dominate, dominie, don, down,
    doyen, doyenne, easy winner, educationist, educator, effector,
    elder, elder statesman, employer, engenderer, engineer, executive,
    executor, executrix, expert, father, fathom, fell, fellow, feoffee,
    feudatory, first, first-rater, flatten, fledgling, focal, follow,
    foremost, founder, fugleman, gaffer, general, generator, genius,
    get, get down cold, get down pat, get hold of, get taped,
    get the drift, get the idea, get the picture, get up on, good hand,
    govern, governing, governor, grasp, great, great soul, grotesque,
    grower, guide, guru, handicraftsman, have, have it taped,
    have the ascendancy, head, headmaster, headmistress, headmost,
    hegemonic, hegemonistic, hero, high priest, higher-up, highest,
    hobbledehoy, householder, humble, humiliate, hurdle, illuminate,
    important person, in ascendancy, in charge, in chief,
    in the ascendant, inaugurator, industrialist, ingenious, initiator,
    instigator, institutor, instructor, intellect, intellectual,
    intendant, introducer, inventor, journeyman, judge advocate,
    judge ordinary, jurat, justice in eyre, justice of assize, ken,
    kingfish, kingpin, kitsch, know, know well, lad, laddie, laird,
    landlady, landlord, laureate, lay judge, leader, leading, learn,
    learn the ropes, legal assessor, lick, lord, lover of wisdom,
    maestro, magician, magisterial, mahatma, main, maker,
    man of genius, man of intellect, man of wisdom, manager, manchild,
    mandarin, manufacturer, master carpenter, master craftsman,
    master hand, masterful, masterly, mastermind, masterpiece,
    masterwork, mate, maven, mechanic, melamed, mentor, mesne,
    mesne lord, military judge, mistress, mobile, monarch, mother,
    muchacho, mullah, museum piece, naval officer, navigating officer,
    navigator, nonpareil, nude, old hand, old master, ombudsman,
    oracle, ordinary, organizer, originator, overall, overbearing,
    overcome, overmaster, override, overriding, overruling, overseer,
    overwhelm, owner, pancratiast, pandit, paragon, paramount,
    paramour, past, past master, pasticcio, pastiche, patron,
    pedagogist, pedagogue, personage, philosopher, pick up, piece,
    piece of virtu, pipes, planner, play first fiddle, police judge,
    practiced hand, preceptor, precursor, predominant, predominate,
    preeminent, premier, prentice, prepollent, preponderant,
    preponderate, prepotent, president, presiding judge, prevail,
    prevailing, prevalent, primal, primary, prime, prime mover,
    principal, pro, probate judge, prodigy, producer, professional,
    professor, proficient, proprietary, proprietor, proprietress,
    proprietrix, provost, puisne judge, pundit, pup, puppy, put down,
    quartermaster, quell, rabbi, raiser, ranking, read, realize,
    realizer, recorder, rector, reduce, regnant, regulating,
    regulative, regulatory, reigning, rentier, repress, ride down,
    rishi, rule, rule the roost, ruler, ruling, runner-up, sage,
    sailing master, sapient, savant, savvy, scholar, schoolboy,
    schoolkeeper, schoolmaster, schoolteacher, second mate, seer,
    seize, seize the meaning, senior, sense, shaper, shipmaster,
    shoo-in, sire, skilled, skilled hand, skillful, skipper, smash,
    smith, sonny, sonny boy, sovereign, squire, stabile, star, starets,
    statue, stellar, still life, study, subdue, subduer, subjugate,
    subjugator, supereminent, superintendent, superior, superman,
    superstar, supervisor, suppress, supreme, sure winner, surmount,
    take, take in, take the lead, tame, taskmaster, teacher,
    technician, the Old Man, the greatest, the most, thinker, throw,
    titleholder, top dog, topflight, topmost, topnotcher, trample down,
    trample underfoot, tread underfoot, triumph, triumpher, tutor,
    twist, tyrannize, understand, unman, uppermost, vanquish,
    vanquisher, vice-chancellor, victor, virtu, virtuoso,
    watch officer, wear the pants, whelp, whiz, winner, wise man,
    wise old man, wizard, work, work of art, wright, young man,
    youth

    Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0


    master

    botmaster

    The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)


    MASTER. This word has several meanings. 1. Master is one who has control
    over a servant or apprentice. A master stands in relation to his
    apprentices, in loco parentis, and is bound to fulfill that relation, which
    the law generally enforces. He is also entitled to be obeyed by his
    apprentices, as if they were his children. Bouv. Inst. Index, h.t.
    2.-2. Master is one who is employed in teaching children, known
    generally as a schoolmaster; as to his powers, see Correction.
    3.-3. Master is the name of an officer: as, the ship Benjamin
    Franklin, whereof A B is master; the master of the rolls; master in
    chancery, &c.
    4.-4. By master is also understood a principal who employs another to
    perform some act or do something for him. The law having adopted the maxim
    of the civil law, qui facit per alium facit per se; the agent is but an
    instrument, and the master is civilly responsible for the act of his agent,
    as if it were his own, when he either commands him to do an act, or puts him
    in a condition, of which such act is a result, or by the absence of due care
    and control, either previously in the choice of his agent, or immediately in
    the act itself, negligently suffers him to do an injury. Story, Ag. Sec.
    454, note; Noy's Max. c. 44; Salk. 282; 1 East. R. 106; 1 Bos. & Pul. 404; 2
    H. Bl. 267; 5 Barn. & Cr. 547; 2 Taunt. R. 314; 4 Taunt. R. 649; Mass. 364,
    385; 17 Mass. 479, 509; 1 Pick. 47 5; 4 Watts, 222; 2 Harr. & Gill., 316; 6
    Cowen, 189; 8 Pick. 23; 5 Munf. 483. Vide Agent; Agency; Driver; Servant.

    Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)




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