masterly
adverb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L194345 on Wikidata ↗adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L338308 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈmɑːstəli/ / /ˈmæ-/ / /ˈmæstɚli/
adj
Etymology: 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.
- 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; [...]”
- 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 other places, than for ſcholes.”
“Many times fear is a profitable and an active ſervant, if it do not dominere and grow maſterlie.”
adv
Etymology: 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).
- 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.”