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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

M`ASTER, n. [L. magister, compounded of the root of magis, major, greater.]
1. A man who rules, governs or directs either men or business. A man who owns slaves is their master; he who has servants is their master; he who has apprentices is their master; he who has apprentices is their master, as he has the government and direction of them. The man who superintends and directs any business, is master, or master workman.
O thou my friend, my genius, come along,
Thou master of the poet and the song.
Nations that want protectors, will have masters.
2. A director, head, or chief manager; as the master of a feast.
3. The owner; proprietor; with the idea of governing. The master of a house may be the owner, or the occupant, who has a temporary right of governing it.
It would be believed that he rather took the horse for his subject, than his master.
4. A lord; a ruler; one who has supreme dominion.
Caesar, the world's great master and his own.
5. A chief; a principal; as the master root of a plant.
One master passion swallows up the rest.
6. One who has possession, and the power of controlling or using at pleasure.
When I have made myself master of a hundred thousand drachmas--
7. The commander of a merchant ship.
8. In ships of war, an officer who takes rank immediately after the lieutenants,and navigates the ship under the direction of the captain.
9. The director of a school; a teacher; an instructor.
In this sense the word is giving place to the more appropriate words teacher, instructor and preceptor; at least it is so in the United States.
10. One uncontrolled.
Let every man be master of his time.
11. An appellation of respect.
Master doctor, you have brought those drugs.
12. An appellation given to young men.
Where there are little masters and misses in a house--
13. A man eminently or perfectly skilled in any occupation, art or science. We say, a man is master of his business; a great master of music, of the flute or violin; a master of his subject, etc.
14. A title of dignity in colleges and universities; as Master of Arts.
15. The chief of a society; as the Grand Master of Malta, of free-masons, etc.
16. The director of ceremonies at public places, or on public occasions.
17. The president of a college.
Master in chancery, an assistant of the lord chancellor, chosen from among the barristers to sit in chancery, or at the rolls.
To be master of one's self, to have the command or control of one's own passions.
The word master has numerous applications, in all of which it has the sense of director, chief or superintendent.
As a title of respect given to adult persons, it is pronounced mister; a pronunciation which seems to have been derived from some of the northern dialects. [supra.]
M`ASTER, v.i. To conquer; to overpower; to subdue; to bring under control.
Obstinacy and willful neglect must be mastered, even though it costs blows.
Evil customs must be mastered by degrees.
1. To execute with skill.
I will not offer that which I cannot master.
2. To rule; to govern.
--And rather father thee than master thee. [Not used.]
M`ASTER, v.i. To be skillful; to excel.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

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

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English magister & Anglo-French meistre, both from Latin magister; akin to Latin magnus large — more at much Date: before 12th century 1. a. (1) a male teacher (2) a person holding an academic degree higher than a bachelor's but lower than a doctor's b. often capitalized a revered religious leader c. a worker or artisan qualified to teach apprentices d. (1) an artist, performer, or player of consummate skill (2) a great figure of the past (as in science or art) whose work serves as a model or ideal 2. a. one having authority over another ; ruler, governor b. one that conquers or masters ; victor, superior <in the new challenger the champion found his master> c. a person licensed to command a merchant ship d. (1) one having control (2) an owner especially of a slave or animal e. the employer especially of a servant f. (1) dialect husband (2) the male head of a household 3. a. (1) archaic Mr. (2) a youth or boy too young to be called mister — used as a title b. the eldest son of a Scottish viscount or baron 4. a. a presiding officer in an institution or society (as a college) b. any of several officers of court appointed to assist (as by hearing and reporting) a judge 5. a. a master mechanism or device b. an original from which copies can be made; especially a master recording (as a magnetic tape) • mastership noun II. adjective Date: 12th century being or relating to a master: as a. having chief authority ; dominant b. skilled, proficient <a prosperous master builder — Current Biography> c. principal, predominant d. superlative — often used in combination <a master-liar> e. being a device or mechanism that controls the operation of another mechanism or that establishes a standard (as a dimension or weight) f. being or relating to a master from which duplicates are made III. transitive verb (mastered; mastering) Date: 13th century 1. to become master of ; overcome <mastered his fears> 2. a. to become skilled or proficient in the use of <master a foreign language> b. to gain a thorough understanding of <had mastered every aspect of publishing — Current Biography> 3. to produce a master recording of (as a musical rendition)

U.S. Military Dictionary

The commanding officer of a United States Naval Ship, a commercial ship, or a government-owned general agency agreement ship operated for the Military Sealift Command by a civilian company to transport Department of Defense cargo. Also called MA. (JP 3-02.2)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n., adj., & v. --n. 1 a a person having control of persons or things. b an employer. c a male head of a household (master of the house). d the owner of a dog, horse, etc. e the owner of a slave. f Naut. the captain of a merchant ship. g Hunting the person in control of a pack of hounds etc. 2 a male teacher or tutor, esp. a schoolmaster. 3 a the head of a college, school, etc. b the presiding officer of a livery company, Masonic lodge, etc. 4 a person who has or gets the upper hand (we shall see which of us is master). 5 a person skilled in a particular trade and able to teach others (often attrib.: master carpenter). 6 a holder of a university degree orig. giving authority to teach in the university (Master of Arts; Master of Science). 7 a a revered teacher in philosophy etc. b (the Master) Christ. 8 a great artist. 9 Chess etc. a player of proved ability at international level. 10 an original version (e.g. of a film or gramophone record) from which a series of copies can be made. 11 (Master) a a title prefixed to the name of a boy not old enough to be called Mr (Master T. Jones; Master Tom). b archaic a title for a man of high rank, learning, etc. 12 (in England and Wales) an official of the Supreme Court. 13 a machine or device directly controlling another (cf. SLAVE). 14 (Master) a courtesy title of the eldest son of a Scottish viscount or baron (the Master of Falkland). --adj. 1 commanding, superior (a master spirit). 2 main, principal (master bedroom). 3 controlling others (master plan). --v.tr. 1 overcome, defeat. 2 reduce to subjection. 3 acquire complete knowledge of (a subject) or facility in using (an instrument etc.). 4 rule as a master. Phrases and idioms: be master of 1 have at one's disposal. 2 know how to control. be one's own master be independent or free to do as one wishes. make oneself master of acquire a thorough knowledge of or facility in using. Master Aircrew an RAF rank equivalent to warrant-officer. master-at-arms (pl. masters-at-arms) the chief police officer on a man-of-war or a merchant ship. master-class a class given by a person of distinguished skill, esp. in music. master-hand 1 a person having commanding power or great skill. 2 the action of such a person. master-key a key that opens several locks, each of which also has its own key. master mariner 1 the captain of a merchant ship. 2 a seaman certified competent to be captain. master mason 1 a skilled mason, or one in business on his or her own account. 2 a fully qualified Freemason, who has passed the third degree. Master of Ceremonies see CEREMONY. Master of the Rolls (in England and Wales) a judge who presides over the Court of Appeal and was formerly in charge of the Public Record Office. master-stroke an outstandingly skilful act of policy etc. master-switch a switch controlling the supply of electricity etc. to an entire system. master touch a masterly manner of dealing with something. master-work a masterpiece. Derivatives: masterdom n. masterhood n. masterless adj. Etymology: OE mægester (later also f. OF maistre) f. L magister, prob. rel. to magis more

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Master Mas"ter, 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. ?. 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. 2. One who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time. --Shak. Master of a hundred thousand drachms. --Addison. We are masters of the sea. --Jowett (Thucyd. ). 3. One who has attained great skill in the use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical art. Great masters of ridicule. --Maccaulay. No care is taken to improve young men in their own language, that they may thoroughly understand and be masters of it. --Locke. 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. 5. A young gentleman; a lad, or small boy. Where there are little masters and misses in a house, they are impediments to the diversions of the servants. --Swift. 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. 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. 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, one who has held the office of master in a lodge of Freemasons or in a society similarly organized. 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. Note: Master, signifying chief, principal, masterly, superior, thoroughly skilled, etc., is often used adjiectively 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. Throughout the city by the master gate. --Chaucer. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. Obstinacy and willful neglects must be mastered, even though it cost blows. --Locke. 2. To gain the command of, so as to understand or apply; to become an adept in; as, to master a science. 3. To own; to posses. [Obs.] The wealth That the world masters. --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(masters, mastering, mastered) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. A servant's master is the man that he or she works for. My master ordered me not to deliver the message except in private... N-COUNT 2. A dog's master is the man or boy who owns it. The dog yelped excitedly when his master opened a desk drawer and produced his leash. N-COUNT: usu poss N 3. If you say that someone is a master of a particular activity, you mean that they are extremely skilled at it. They appear masters in the art of making regulations work their way. N-COUNT: usu N of/at/in n/-ing see also past master • Master is also an adjective. ...a master craftsman. ...a master criminal. ADJ: ADJ n 4. If you are master of a situation, you have complete control over it. Jackson remained calm and always master of his passions... N-VAR: usu N of n 5. If you master something, you learn how to do it properly or you succeed in understanding it completely. Duff soon mastered the skills of radio production... Students are expected to master a second language. VERB: V n, V n 6. If you master a difficult situation, you succeed in controlling it. When you have mastered one situation you have to go on to the next... VERB: V n 7. A famous male painter of the past is often called a master. ...a portrait by the Dutch master, Vincent Van Gogh. N-COUNT see also old master 8. A master copy of something such as a film or a tape recording is an original copy that can be used to produce other copies. Keep one as a master copy for your own reference and circulate the others. ADJ: ADJ n 9. A master's degree can be referred to as a master's. I've a master's in economics. N-SING

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

mas'-ter ('adhon, ba`al, rabbi; despotes, didaskalos, kurios, rhabbi): "Master," when the translation of 'adhon, "ruler," "lord" (Sir), often translated "lord," denotes generally the owner or master of a servant or slave (Ge 24:9, etc.; 39:2, etc.; Ex 21:4, etc.; De 23:15 bis; 2Sa 9:9,10 twice; Pr 30:10); elsewhere it is rather "lord" or "ruler" (often king, e.g. 1Sa 24:6,8; 26:16); in the plural 'adhonim, it is, as the rule, used only of God (but see Ge 19:2,18; De 10:17; Ps 136:3, "Lord of lords"; Isa 26:13, "other lords"; 19:4 (Hebrew "lords"); 24:2). Ba`al, "lord," "owner," is translated "master": "the master of the house" (Ex 22:8; Jud 19:22,23); "the ass his master's crib" (Isa 1:3). We have it also translated "masters of assemblies" (Ec 12:11). See ASSEMBLIES, MASTERS OF. Compare Ecclesiasticus 32:1, "master (of a feast)," the Revised Version (British and American) "ruler"; Joh 2:9, "ruler of the feast"; [rabh] (Da 1:3; Jon 1:6, "shipmaster"); rabh, Aramaic, "great," "mighty," "elder" (Da 4:9; 5:11," master of the magicians"); also [sar], "head" or "chief" (Ex 1:11, "taskmasters"; 1Ch 15:27, "master of the song," the Revised Version margin "the carrying of the ark, Hebrew the lifting up"); `ur, "to call," "to awake," is also rendered "master" in the King James Version, "The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar," margin "him that waketh and him that answereth," the Revised Version (British and American) as the King James Version margin (Mal 2:12).

The verb "to master" does not occur in the Old Testament, but we have in Apocrypha (The Wisdom of Solomon 12:18) "mastering thy power" (despozon ischuos), the Revised Version (British and American) "being sovereign over (thy) strengh."

In the New Testament despotes answers to 'adhon as "master" (1Ti 6:1,2; 2Ti 2:21), rendered also "Lord" (Lu 2:29,etc.); kurios, is "Master," "Lord," "Sir," used very frequently of God or of Christ (Mt 1:20,22,24), translated "Master" (Mt 6:24; 15:27; the King James Version Mr 13:35; Ro 14:4, etc.); kathegetes, a "leader," is translated "Master" (Mt 23:8 (the King James Version),10); didaskalos, a title very often applied to our Lord in the Gospels, is "Teacher," translated "Master" in the King James Version Mt 8:19; 9:11; Mr 4:38; Lu 3:12, etc.; the Revised Version (British and American) "Teacher"; also Joh 3:2,10; Jas 3:1, "be not many masters," the Revised Version (British and American) "teachers"; rhabbi, rhabbei ("Rabbi") (a transliterated Hebrew term signifying "my Teacher") is also in several instances applied to Jesus, the King James Version "Master" (Mt 26:25,49; Mr 9:5; 11:21; Joh 9:2 (the Revised Version (British and American) leaves untranslated) Mr 10:51, "Rabboni," the King James Version "Lord"; Joh 20:16 ("Rabbouni"), the Revised Version (British and American) "Rabboni," which see).

For "master" the Revised Version (British and American) has "lord" (1Sa 26:16; 29:4,10; Am 4:1; Mr 13:35; Ro 14:4); "master" for "lord" (Ge 39:16; 2Pe 2:1; Re 6:10); for "good man of the house" (Mt 24:43; Lu 12:39), "master of the house"; in Eph 6:5, the Revised Version margin gives "Gr lords" (in 6:9, "their Master and yours" is also Greek kurios); instead of "the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:4), the Revised Version (British and American) reads "our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ," margin "the only Master, and our Lord Jesus Christ"; for "overcame them" (Ac 19:16), "mastered both of them."

W. L. Walker

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Ruler, director, governor, manager, superintendent, overseer, lord. 2. Commander, captain. 3. Teacher, instructor, tutor, preceptor, school-master, pedagogue. 4. Owner, proprietor, holder, possessor. 5. Proficient, adept, master-hand. 6. Employer. 7. Chief, principal, head, leader. II. v. a. 1. Overpower, overcome, conquer, subdue, subjugate, vanquish. 2. Acquire, learn thoroughly, make one's self master of, become an adept in. III. a. Main, chief, leading, principal, cardinal, prime, especial, great, grand, most important.

Moby Thesaurus

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