masteryn.

Brit.

/ˈmɑːst(ə)ri/,

/ˈmast(ə)ri/, U.S.

/ˈmæst(ə)ri/

Forms: Middle English maiestrie, Middle English maister, Middle English maistere, Middle English maisterri, Middle English maistir, Middle English maistrey, Middle English maistri, Middle English mastere, Middle English masterry, Middle English maystre, Middle English maystri, Middle English maystrie, Middle English meistri, Middle English meistrie, Middle English mesterie, Middle English mestrie, Middle English meystry, Middle English mystry, Middle English–1500s maistery, Middle English–1500s maistre, Middle English–1500s maistrye, Middle English–1500s masterye, Middle English–1500s mastir, Middle English–1500s mastre, Middle English–1500s mastri, Middle English–1500s mastrye, Middle English–1500s maysterie, Middle English–1500s maystery, Middle English–1500s maystry, Middle English–1500s maystrye, Middle English–1600s maisterie, Middle English–1600s maistrie, Middle English–1600s maistry, Middle English–1600s masterie, Middle English–1600s mastrie, Middle English–1600s mastry, Middle English– mastery, 1500s mastere, 1500s mayster; Scottish pre-1700 maisterie, pre-1700 maistirie, pre-1700 maistre, pre-1700 maistri, pre-1700 maistrie, pre-1700 maistrye, pre-1700 mastre, pre-1700 mastri, pre-1700 mastrie, pre-1700 mastry, pre-1700 mast'ry, pre-1700 mastrye, pre-1700 maystry, pre-1700 1800s– maistery, pre-1700 1800s– maistry, pre-1700 1800s– mastery.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French maistrie.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French maistrie, mestrie authority, power, dominion, superiority, skill (12th cent.; < maistre , mestre (see master n.¹) + -ie -y suffix³), subsequently remodelled after master n.¹ Compare Spanish maestría, Portuguese mestria, Italian maestria (all 13th cent.).Anglo-Norman and Old French also had an abstract noun maistrise , mestrise (Middle French maistrise , mestrise maistrice n.) which superseded maistrie in Middle French; it is often indistinguishable from the plural of the present word, and may have influenced its use in Middle English and early modern English, e.g. in quot. c1450 at sense 1a. For further possible examples see maistrice n. In senses 2a and 4b, a postmodifying prepositional phrase, if present, is usually introduced by of or over . Some 20th cent. usage guides prescribe a distinction in preposition use according to the complement, i.e. mastery of a subject, skill, etc., mastery over a person; however, in practice this distinction appears not to be observed with any consistency in any historical period. In sense 4c perhaps reinforced by confusion with mastering n.

a. Superiority or ascendancy in battle or competition, or in a struggle of any kind; victory resulting in domination or subjugation; an instance of this, a victory. Frequently in to get (also gain) (the) mastery. (In later use merging with sense 2a.)

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > victory > [noun]

siȝec893

masteryc1225

conquestc1315

gree1320

victoryc1330

victor1390

victory1398

battlec1400

triumphc1412

masterdomc1475

victoragec1480

V1941

the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [noun]

overhandc1175

masteryc1225

gree1320

betc1330

pricea1350

advantagea1393

overmasterya1400

voicea1400

betterc1405

higherc1450

prevaila1460

superiority1548

mastership1573

prevalence1604

eminence1609

privilegea1616

prevalency1623

upper fortunea1625

whipping-hand1682

whip hand1806

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > display of skill > an act or feat of skill

masteryc1225

maistricec1390

feat1564

execution1581

stroke1672

tour de force1802

c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 133 Al ha icneowen ham..& ouercumen, & cweðen hire þe meistrie.

c1300 St. Katherine (Laud) 128 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 96 (MED) Heo ne couþen answerie hire of neuere a word, and ȝeuen hire þe maistrie.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 1147 Þoru godes grace Hii adde þe maistrie of veld.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 21404 Þe mastri has king constantin Thoru þe cros and cristes might.

Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 320 Maystrye, or souerente, and heyare honde y(n) stryfe or werre.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 4502 Mars for his maisterris & for his many weris [etc.].

c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lix (MED) Sum bird may cum and stryve In song with the, the maistry to purchace.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Tim. ii. 5 And though a man stryue for a mastrye [1611 for masteries].

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xxv. 22 Yf a woman gett the mastrie, then is she contrary to hir huszbande.

1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Gvij^v To the end in case they yet once againe got the masterie, they should not harme her.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 899 Four Champions fierce Strive here for Maistrie .

1683 London Bully 58 While that we were discoursing with this Lord.., the Footmen got the Mastery of him, and bound his hands and feet.

1761 F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph II. 220 Though she struggles with her illness, it still gets the mastery.

1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. 103 He..always gained the mastery in the end.

1973 K. Lines Greek Legends 160 There were many battles between the two armies..yet neither side gained mastery.

†b. Superior force or power. to have to mastery: to have in one's power. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > power > [noun] > superior power

mightOE

masteryc1325

prepotence1598

prepotency1815

society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > have complete control over

windc1374

to bring (a person) above the thumb1469

to have to mastery1480

to have at one's beck1530

to turn and wind1557

to bring any one to, or have him at, one's bent1575

to turn over the thumb1603

to lead in a stringc1616

to hold at school1647

to wind (a person, etc.) round one's (little) finger1698

to twirl (a person) round one's finger1748

to twist (a person) round one's finger1780

to play with ——1827

to have (one) on toast1886

to have (got) by the balls1918

to have the wood onc1926

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 53 (MED) Þe folc of denemarch..ofte wonne engelond and helde it bi maistrie.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9182 Þat he aþ inome wiþ trayson we ssolle wiþ maistrie.

c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 1904 (MED) And y wer now on þy mastrye..how wostou þan do by me?

1426–7 in Cal. Proc. Chancery Queen Elizabeth (1827) I. p. xx (MED) Symkyn Yve..be maistery and supportacion of lordship..deprived..John Haryngton..of v marc of annuell rent.

c1440 W. Hilton Mixed Life (Thornton) in G. G. Perry Eng. Prose Treat. (1921) 38 I halde it, noghte spedfull þan to a man for to prese to mekill þare-till, as if he walde gete it by maystry.

1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 41 After that the euyll doers Haue knowlechid her euyll dedes, He hath them to mastrye.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) x. i. 121 And command eyk, with gret fors and mastry The burgh of Cartage doun thring Italy.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Bb8^v Ne may loue be compeld by maistery.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian vii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 186 These wicked people..stopped me by violence and mastery.

†c. for the mastery: extremely, in the highest degree. (Frequently in Middle English poetry.) Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > in or to the greatest degree

never solOE

with (also mid) the mostc1275

for the masteryc1325

to the bestc1390

to the uttermostc1400

at the hardest1429

to the utmostc1450

to the skies (also sky)1559

at float1594

all to nothing1606

to the height1609

to the proofa1625

to the last degree1639

to the welkin?1746

(the) worst kind1839

for all it's worth1864

as —— as they make them?a1880

in the highest1897

to the nth (degree, power)1897

up to eleven1987

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 11554 (MED) An stede he gan aprikie wel vor þe maistrie.

c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 4961 Þe douke hadde a feir douhter for þe meistri.

?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 178 The ȝates þat kyng Alisandre leet make of grete stones..wel symented & made stronge for the maystrie.

a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) 1390 Whan..þat I poore am eek for þe maystrie.

c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre Sir Launfal (1930) 957 (MED) Twey stones of Ynde Gay for þe maystrye.

a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 44 Coloure hit with safroun for þe maystre.

†d. Scottish Proverb. mastery mows the meadow down [compare Old French la force paist le pré.] Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1550 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Wemyss) lxxx. 1499 It is said in commone sawis that mastry mawis þe medow doune ay.

1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 251 Mastery mows the Meadow down, Spoken when people of Power and Wealth effect a great Business in a short Time.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 180 The Captain..keeps a high hand ower the country,..and maistry, ye ken, maws the meadows doun.

1832 A. Henderson Sc. Prov. 133 Mastery maws down the meadow.

a. More generally: the state or condition of being master, controller, or ruler; authority, dominion, control; an instance of this.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > [noun]

doomc1000

strengthOE

obediencea1225

bandon?c1225

mastery?c1225

authority1340

bailliec1380

obeisancea1393

baila1400

mastership?a1425

jurisdictionc1425

masterdomc1475

reformation1523

maistrice1526

swinge1531

potentness1581

obey1584

masterfulnessa1586

prevailance1592

covert1596

magistrality1603

command1608

magistery1642

magisteriality1646

sway1765

tenure1871

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 85 Muche hoker is to cumen into ancre hus..for to sechen eise þer in & mestrie [c1230 Corpus meistrie; a1250 Titus maisterie, a1250 Nero mestrie] & lafdischipe.

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 298 Luue haueð an meistrie biforen alle oðre.

?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 107 (MED) God ȝaf him a gret maistri Of al þat was in watir and londe.

c1390 G. Chaucer Physician's Tale 58 Bacus hadde of hire mouth right no maistrye.

a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) ix. 20 The utter man haf noght maistry of the inere.

c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) xxxvii Hath he upon oure hertis suich maistrye?

c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 13662 This Merion hade maistri but a meane qwile The lond to Laerte he leuyt.

1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. iii. xi. § 7. 138 (heading) Conon the Athenian..recouers the mastrie of the Seas.

1651 T. Hobbes Philos. Rudim. xvi. §16. 285 The Priesthood was not a Maistry, but a Ministry.

1704 London Gaz. No. 4061/3 Keeping the Mastery at Sea,..maugre the..Strength of the Enemy's Fleet.

1751 E. Haywood Hist. Betsy Thoughtless II. vii. 82 Those evil spirits, to which she had yielded but too much the mastery of her heart.

1846 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 II. viii. 366 They..needed only..guidance to dispute with the victors the mastery over Hindustan.

1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People v. §1. 221 Edward's aim..was..to save English commerce by securing the mastery of the Channel.

1901 F. Norris Octopus ii. vii. 559 It was gone—that old-time power of mastery, that faculty of command.

1970 A. Toffler Future Shock xx. 398 Science first gave man a sense of mastery over his environment, and hence over the future.

1985 J. Irving Cider House Rules i. 44 Homer was very nearly convinced of their mastery of the elements.

†b. Predominance; prevailing or predominant character. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > disposition or character > [noun] > prevailing or distinctive qualities

masterya1398

ruggedness1845

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 67 Maistrie [L. dominium] of colde flewme & moist brediþ hoornes.

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 8492 (MED) Þe þridde quarter haþ him to Canser, Leo, and Virgo, And þei ben boþe hote and drie; Of ȝelowe colour is her maistrie.

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 9014 Cancer is hoote and drye; in him haþ the mone þe maistrie.

a1550 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (Bodl. e Mus.) 1332 For it is the maistrye of all our entente.

1562 G. Legh Accedens of Armory (1597) 115b The mastery of colours must be tawney.

1562 G. Legh Accedens of Armory (1597) 115b The maisterie of the colour must bee Carnation.

1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. v. 68 A burning-fever, to which his body was naturally disposed, as appeared by the mastery of rednesse in his complexion.

†3.

a. An action demonstrating or involving great skill or power. to do (also make, work, etc.) (a) mastery: (frequently in plural) to perform a notable deed or wonderful feat, esp. a feat of arms; to play a trick, make mischief; to wreak havoc. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > be versed or skilled [verb (intransitive)] > exercise or show one's skill

to do (also make, work, etc.) (a) mastery?c1225

to make maistricec1390

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 285 He..wrachte feole wundres & dude muchele meistries [a1250 Titus maistries] biforen hire.

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 2061 (MED) Hanybal..Wherof the world is yit merveiled Of the maistries that he wroghte.

c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 1060 Ye shul wel seen at eye That I wol doon a maistrie er I go.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 12319 (MED) Quen maria had sene þis maistre, Sco hid it in hert priuelie.

c1440 (?a1400) Sir Perceval (1930) 1048 Forthe rydez he then,..His maystres to make.

c1450 in F. J. Furnivall Hymns to Virgin & Christ (1867) 20 Þe feend away from us þou dryue Whanne deeþ with us maistrie schal make.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 78 (MED) Ther the duke a-bode, and dide many maistries in armes.

a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccxxiiii. f. clv Y^e welsh men..brake out vpon the Englysshe men in y^e Bordour..and there made masteryes for a whyle.

1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 1st Pt. f. 74^v That ye maye knowe..what masteryes they haue played.

1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. E1, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) By a number of odde speeches..you doo yet suppose to haue wrought a mastery.

b. to be little mastery: (of an action) to be easy; to be only a minor achievement. Similarly to be great (also no, much, etc.) mastery. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 235 Þo þe clerc adde iseid his enchanterie..silui him let sle, ac þat was lute maistrie.

c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) 1738 Hit were no meistri me to slo For þis is þe ferþe dai agon Mete ne drinke ne bot i non.

?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 109 Þat was a gret maistri Þat þe doȝtir ber þe fader.

a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) 1900 Þee prince is good lord þe to; No maistri it is for þe..To be releeued.

?1456 H. at Fenne in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 137 It is no grete maistre to gader vp þat mony.

1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) i. 17 Yt is no more mastery to god to make of ought, & to make of nought.

1576 A. Fleming tr. J. Caius Of Eng. Dogges 17 They [sc. duckes] go so slowely and so leasurely, that to a mans thinking it were no masteryes to take them.

1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 98 By these helpes it was no masterie to vanquish and subdue them.

1625 P. Heylyn Μικρόκοσμος (rev. ed.) 548 As Tully saith, for a man to be good in other places, is no masterie; but in Asia to lead a temperate life, is indeed praise-worthy.

a1637 B. Jonson Timber 670 in Wks. (1640) III It is a little Maistry to know them.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 29 Warrs, hitherto the onely Argument Heroic deem'd, chief maistrie to dissect With long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights In Battels feign'd.

c. A competitive or emulative feat of strength or skill. Esp. in to try (also play, prove, etc.) masteries: to engage in a trial of strength or skill. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > compete or rival [verb (intransitive)]

envyc1369

to try (also play, prove, etc.) masteriesa1393

strive?c1450

pingle?a1513

marrow1567

corrive1586

contend1589

tilt1589

to drop vie(s)1599

to prove conclusions1601

to try (a) conclusion1601

rival1608

wage1608

campa1614

vie1615

buzzle1638

side1641

rival1656

urge1691

compete1796

rivalize1800

society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > a competitive feat

masterya1393

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. 682 Thei scholden come Unto the gamen..To do such maistrie as thei myhte.

?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 1028 He proued many maystryes.

c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 77 King Edwarde iij^de..exersised..all his noble sonnes in suche maiestries wherby they were more apt in haunting of armes.

1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xvii. sig. Hviii The great game of Olympus; wherto..came the moste actife and valiant persons to assay maistries.

1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. v. f. 24 Many daunsynges..and other tryinge of mastryes.

1594 H. Plat Diuerse Sorts of Soyle 47 in Jewell House [Soil] fitter for gardens, or for the trial of maisteries, then for the enriching of arable or pasture grounds.

1606 P. Holland in tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars Annot. 30* Stage-playes, Gymnicke Exercises, and Masteries in Musicke.

1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 108 This is but to try Masteries with Fortune.

a1645 D. Featley Orationes Synodicæ vii, in Καταβάπτισται Κατάπτυστοι: Dippers Dipt (1647) 211 Unlesse he prove masteries again, and in another race out-strip his adversary.

1666 Earl of Arlington Let. 6 July in Lett. to W. Temple (1701) 87 Till they have tryed the Mastery with our Fleet.

1697 Philos. Trans. 1695–7 (Royal Soc.) 19 501 They were soon..kill'd like other Venison as well for the sake of Food as Mastery and Diversion.

1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Josephus Jewish Antiq. ii. xiv, in Wks. 51 He [sc. Pharaoh] seemed to take a Vanity..to try Masteries with God Allmighty.

a. Masterly or consummate skill, ability, or accomplishment.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > skill or knowledge > mastery

mastery?1316

maistricec1390

mastership1559

masterliness1653

mastercraft1707

mistress-ship1819

masterhood1875

maestria1876

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > intellectual command, mastery > [noun] > skill of a master

mastery?1316

maistricec1390

mastership1559

masterhood1875

?1316 Short Metrical Chron. (Royal) (2002) l. 170 He wes clerk of nigremancie Þat ys an art of gret maistrie.

c1350 in T. Silverstein Eng. Lyrics before 1500 (1971) 53 (MED) Wyth what mastrie He hat man ywrouht.

c1390 G. Chaucer Miller's Tale 3383 To shewe his lightnesse and maistrye, He pleyeth Herodes vpon a scaffold hye.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 43 (MED) Whilom clerkes wel ylerede On þre diȝtten þis middelerde, And cleped hem, in her maistre, Europe, Affryke, and Assye.

c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) 1693 Men of maystrye, Clerkes of nygremansye.

1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 85 This waie argueth maistrie, and..hee who can doe it..needeth not to stand telling his cordes.

a1637 B. Jonson Under-woods lii. 16 in Wks. (1640) III O, had I now your manner, maistry, might,..How I would draw.

1680 Earl of Rochester Allusion to Horace i. x. 47 With just bold Strokes he dashes here and there, Showing great Mastery with little Care.

1797 N.Y. Gaz. & Gen. Advertiser 18 Nov. 3/4 (advt.) A beautiful collection of paintings of the best Italian and French mastery.

1830 A. Cunningham Lives Brit. Painters (ed. 2) II. 59 Such mastery rarely waited upon the ambition of this amiable and upright man.

1876 W. Morris Story of Sigurd iv. 351 Their Gods with mastery carven.

1925 B. Rackham in R. Fry et al. Chinese Art 15 When the classic period of T'ang is reached, the potters are working with the easy mastery of artists in their craft.

1986 M. Foot Loyalists & Loners 152 Lloyd George returned to the platform with all his old mastery and relish in the 1920s.

b. Command or comprehensive knowledge of a subject, art, or process; pre-eminent skill in a particular sphere of activity; an instance of this.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > intellectual command, mastery > [noun]

gropeOE

sciencea1387

mastery1585

mastership1612

grasp1683

grip1861

masterhood1869

1585 R. Bostocke Difference Aunc. & Latter Phisicke sig. Fi Palpable sensible and visible experience, which is the maysteries of Artes and Sciences.

1672 T. Shadwell Miser iv. 56 Now comes my part, to set my braines on work, I'le shew you the mastery of my Art.

a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 249 To commend without Desert Requires a Mastery of Art.

1712 J. Henley Spectator No. 396. ⁋2 An uncommon Mastery in the more humane and polite Part of Letters.

1796 F. Burney Camilla I. i. iv. 73 If once..I should conquer the mastery of the classics, I shall make but very short work of all the rest.

1828 M. R. Mitford Let. 27 Oct. in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) ii. xi. 257 She has a mastery of the subject.

1870 B. Disraeli Lothair (new ed.) lii This consummate military leader..was distinguished by..a mastery of method rarely surpassed.

1880 W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor (ed. 3) III. viii. 73 His mastery of English was supreme.

1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 815/1 The construction of such buildings as the palace at Uxmal..indicates a mastery in architectural design.

1992 Times Higher Educ. Suppl. 27 Mar. 33/2 A creative, tireless negotiator, he developed an unrivalled mastery of the nuts and bolts of the trucking industry.

c. The action of mastering a subject.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > learning > [noun] > mastering a subject

mastering1730

mastery1797

1797 W. Godwin Enquirer i. vi. 48 It is essential to the just mastery of astronomy.

1856 W. E. Aytoun Bothwell i. xxi. 26 In that dark Italian eye Was craft beyond my mastery.

1870 J. B. Brown First Princ. Eccl. Truth (1871) 219 The problems of Christian ministry become more difficult of mastery year by year.

1938 D. T. Suzuki Zen Buddhism & Infl. Japanese Culture i. iv. 95 The secret documents also contain a number of waka, versified epigrams, in regard to the mastery of swordsmanship.

1996 R. H. Bork Slouching towards Gomorrah ii. xiii. 251 Budding teachers of the young were allowed to avoid competition in the mastery of any subject matter.

†5.

a. A field of knowledge; an art or science; a method or process relating to an art or science. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > branch of knowledge > [noun]

craftOE

lorec1290

cunning1340

facultyc1384

sciencea1387

intelligencea1393

disciplinea1398

masterya1425

learning1570

skill1570

doctrine1594

ism1680

ology1811

ography1828

sophya1843

osophy1851

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > branch of knowledge > [noun] > process, method, rule

masterya1425

method1570

approach1905

a1425 (?a1350) Seven Sages (Galba) (1907) 1115 (MED) Þe child..wroght al preuely and styll Vntil he kowth al þe maistri.

a1475 Bk. Quinte Essence (1889) 9 I wole teche ȝou þe maistrie of departynge of gold fro siluir.

a1500 Partenay (Trin. Cambr.) 188 Thys noble Erle..Of astronemye wyse was..So moche ther-of knew he the maistrie.

b. Alchemy. = magistery n. 5a. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > alchemy > alchemical processes > [noun] > chemical digestion > substances used in > magistery

magisterium1585

magistery1594

mastery1612

magisteriala1627

1612 B. Jonson Alchemist iv. i. sig. H4^v I am the Lord, of the Philosophers Stone... Dol. How Sir, ha' you that? Mam. I am the Master of the Maistry .

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	mastery
释义	masteryn. Brit. /ˈmɑːst(ə)ri/, /ˈmast(ə)ri/, U.S. /ˈmæst(ə)ri/ Forms: Middle English maiestrie, Middle English maister, Middle English maistere, Middle English maisterri, Middle English maistir, Middle English maistrey, Middle English maistri, Middle English mastere, Middle English masterry, Middle English maystre, Middle English maystri, Middle English maystrie, Middle English meistri, Middle English meistrie, Middle English mesterie, Middle English mestrie, Middle English meystry, Middle English mystry, Middle English–1500s maistery, Middle English–1500s maistre, Middle English–1500s maistrye, Middle English–1500s masterye, Middle English–1500s mastir, Middle English–1500s mastre, Middle English–1500s mastri, Middle English–1500s mastrye, Middle English–1500s maysterie, Middle English–1500s maystery, Middle English–1500s maystry, Middle English–1500s maystrye, Middle English–1600s maisterie, Middle English–1600s maistrie, Middle English–1600s maistry, Middle English–1600s masterie, Middle English–1600s mastrie, Middle English–1600s mastry, Middle English– mastery, 1500s mastere, 1500s mayster; Scottish pre-1700 maisterie, pre-1700 maistirie, pre-1700 maistre, pre-1700 maistri, pre-1700 maistrie, pre-1700 maistrye, pre-1700 mastre, pre-1700 mastri, pre-1700 mastrie, pre-1700 mastry, pre-1700 mast'ry, pre-1700 mastrye, pre-1700 maystry, pre-1700 1800s– maistery, pre-1700 1800s– maistry, pre-1700 1800s– mastery. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French maistrie. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Old French maistrie, mestrie authority, power, dominion, superiority, skill (12th cent.; < maistre , mestre (see master n.¹) + -ie -y suffix³), subsequently remodelled after master n.¹ Compare Spanish maestría, Portuguese mestria, Italian maestria (all 13th cent.).Anglo-Norman and Old French also had an abstract noun maistrise , mestrise (Middle French maistrise , mestrise maistrice n.) which superseded maistrie in Middle French; it is often indistinguishable from the plural of the present word, and may have influenced its use in Middle English and early modern English, e.g. in quot. c1450 at sense 1a. For further possible examples see maistrice n. In senses 2a and 4b, a postmodifying prepositional phrase, if present, is usually introduced by of or over . Some 20th cent. usage guides prescribe a distinction in preposition use according to the complement, i.e. mastery of a subject, skill, etc., mastery over a person; however, in practice this distinction appears not to be observed with any consistency in any historical period. In sense 4c perhaps reinforced by confusion with mastering n. 1. a. Superiority or ascendancy in battle or competition, or in a struggle of any kind; victory resulting in domination or subjugation; an instance of this, a victory. Frequently in to get (also gain) (the) mastery. (In later use merging with sense 2a.) ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > victory > [noun] siȝec893 masteryc1225 conquestc1315 gree1320 victoryc1330 victor1390 victory1398 battlec1400 triumphc1412 masterdomc1475 victoragec1480 V1941 the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [noun] overhandc1175 masteryc1225 gree1320 betc1330 pricea1350 advantagea1393 overmasterya1400 voicea1400 betterc1405 higherc1450 prevaila1460 superiority1548 mastership1573 prevalence1604 eminence1609 privilegea1616 prevalency1623 upper fortunea1625 whipping-hand1682 whip hand1806 the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > display of skill > an act or feat of skill masteryc1225 maistricec1390 feat1564 execution1581 stroke1672 tour de force1802 c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 133 Al ha icneowen ham..& ouercumen, & cweðen hire þe meistrie. c1300 St. Katherine (Laud) 128 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 96 (MED) Heo ne couþen answerie hire of neuere a word, and ȝeuen hire þe maistrie. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 1147 Þoru godes grace Hii adde þe maistrie of veld. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 21404 Þe mastri has king constantin Thoru þe cros and cristes might. Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 320 Maystrye, or souerente, and heyare honde y(n) stryfe or werre. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 4502 Mars for his maisterris & for his many weris [etc.]. c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lix (MED) Sum bird may cum and stryve In song with the, the maistry to purchace. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Tim. ii. 5 And though a man stryue for a mastrye [1611 for masteries]. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xxv. 22 Yf a woman gett the mastrie, then is she contrary to hir huszbande. 1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Gvij^v To the end in case they yet once againe got the masterie, they should not harme her. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ii. 899 Four Champions fierce Strive here for Maistrie . View more context for this quotation 1683 London Bully 58 While that we were discoursing with this Lord.., the Footmen got the Mastery of him, and bound his hands and feet. 1761 F. Sheridan Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph II. 220 Though she struggles with her illness, it still gets the mastery. 1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. 103 He..always gained the mastery in the end. 1973 K. Lines Greek Legends 160 There were many battles between the two armies..yet neither side gained mastery. †b. Superior force or power. to have to mastery: to have in one's power. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > power > [noun] > superior power mightOE masteryc1325 prepotence1598 prepotency1815 society > authority > control > [verb (transitive)] > have complete control over windc1374 to bring (a person) above the thumb1469 to have to mastery1480 to have at one's beck1530 to turn and wind1557 to bring any one to, or have him at, one's bent1575 to turn over the thumb1603 to lead in a stringc1616 to hold at school1647 to wind (a person, etc.) round one's (little) finger1698 to twirl (a person) round one's finger1748 to twist (a person) round one's finger1780 to play with ——1827 to have (one) on toast1886 to have (got) by the balls1918 to have the wood onc1926 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 53 (MED) Þe folc of denemarch..ofte wonne engelond and helde it bi maistrie. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9182 Þat he aþ inome wiþ trayson we ssolle wiþ maistrie. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) 1904 (MED) And y wer now on þy mastrye..how wostou þan do by me? 1426–7 in Cal. Proc. Chancery Queen Elizabeth (1827) I. p. xx (MED) Symkyn Yve..be maistery and supportacion of lordship..deprived..John Haryngton..of v marc of annuell rent. c1440 W. Hilton Mixed Life (Thornton) in G. G. Perry Eng. Prose Treat. (1921) 38 I halde it, noghte spedfull þan to a man for to prese to mekill þare-till, as if he walde gete it by maystry. 1480 Table Prouffytable Lernynge (Caxton) (1964) 41 After that the euyll doers Haue knowlechid her euyll dedes, He hath them to mastrye. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) x. i. 121 And command eyk, with gret fors and mastry The burgh of Cartage doun thring Italy. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. i. sig. Bb8^v Ne may loue be compeld by maistery. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian vii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 186 These wicked people..stopped me by violence and mastery. †c. for the mastery: extremely, in the highest degree. (Frequently in Middle English poetry.) Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > in or to the greatest degree never solOE with (also mid) the mostc1275 for the masteryc1325 to the bestc1390 to the uttermostc1400 at the hardest1429 to the utmostc1450 to the skies (also sky)1559 at float1594 all to nothing1606 to the height1609 to the proofa1625 to the last degree1639 to the welkin?1746 (the) worst kind1839 for all it's worth1864 as —— as they make them?a1880 in the highest1897 to the nth (degree, power)1897 up to eleven1987 c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 11554 (MED) An stede he gan aprikie wel vor þe maistrie. c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) 4961 Þe douke hadde a feir douhter for þe meistri. ?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 178 The ȝates þat kyng Alisandre leet make of grete stones..wel symented & made stronge for the maystrie. a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) 1390 Whan..þat I poore am eek for þe maystrie. c1450 (?a1400) T. Chestre Sir Launfal (1930) 957 (MED) Twey stones of Ynde Gay for þe maystrye. a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 44 Coloure hit with safroun for þe maystre. †d. Scottish Proverb. mastery mows the meadow down [compare Old French la force paist le pré.] Obsolete. ΚΠ a1550 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Wemyss) lxxx. 1499 It is said in commone sawis that mastry mawis þe medow doune ay. 1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 251 Mastery mows the Meadow down, Spoken when people of Power and Wealth effect a great Business in a short Time. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian viii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 180 The Captain..keeps a high hand ower the country,..and maistry, ye ken, maws the meadows doun. 1832 A. Henderson Sc. Prov. 133 Mastery maws down the meadow. 2. a. More generally: the state or condition of being master, controller, or ruler; authority, dominion, control; an instance of this. ΘΚΠ society > authority > [noun] doomc1000 strengthOE obediencea1225 bandon?c1225 mastery?c1225 authority1340 bailliec1380 obeisancea1393 baila1400 mastership?a1425 jurisdictionc1425 masterdomc1475 reformation1523 maistrice1526 swinge1531 potentness1581 obey1584 masterfulnessa1586 prevailance1592 covert1596 magistrality1603 command1608 magistery1642 magisteriality1646 sway1765 tenure1871 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 85 Muche hoker is to cumen into ancre hus..for to sechen eise þer in & mestrie [c1230 Corpus meistrie; a1250 Titus maisterie, a1250 Nero mestrie] & lafdischipe. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 298 Luue haueð an meistrie biforen alle oðre. ?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 107 (MED) God ȝaf him a gret maistri Of al þat was in watir and londe. c1390 G. Chaucer Physician's Tale 58 Bacus hadde of hire mouth right no maistrye. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) ix. 20 The utter man haf noght maistry of the inere. c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) xxxvii Hath he upon oure hertis suich maistrye? c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 13662 This Merion hade maistri but a meane qwile The lond to Laerte he leuyt. 1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. iii. xi. § 7. 138 (heading) Conon the Athenian..recouers the mastrie of the Seas. 1651 T. Hobbes Philos. Rudim. xvi. §16. 285 The Priesthood was not a Maistry, but a Ministry. 1704 London Gaz. No. 4061/3 Keeping the Mastery at Sea,..maugre the..Strength of the Enemy's Fleet. 1751 E. Haywood Hist. Betsy Thoughtless II. vii. 82 Those evil spirits, to which she had yielded but too much the mastery of her heart. 1846 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 II. viii. 366 They..needed only..guidance to dispute with the victors the mastery over Hindustan. 1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People v. §1. 221 Edward's aim..was..to save English commerce by securing the mastery of the Channel. 1901 F. Norris Octopus ii. vii. 559 It was gone—that old-time power of mastery, that faculty of command. 1970 A. Toffler Future Shock xx. 398 Science first gave man a sense of mastery over his environment, and hence over the future. 1985 J. Irving Cider House Rules i. 44 Homer was very nearly convinced of their mastery of the elements. †b. Predominance; prevailing or predominant character. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > disposition or character > [noun] > prevailing or distinctive qualities masterya1398 ruggedness1845 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 67 Maistrie [L. dominium] of colde flewme & moist brediþ hoornes. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 8492 (MED) Þe þridde quarter haþ him to Canser, Leo, and Virgo, And þei ben boþe hote and drie; Of ȝelowe colour is her maistrie. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 9014 Cancer is hoote and drye; in him haþ the mone þe maistrie. a1550 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (Bodl. e Mus.) 1332 For it is the maistrye of all our entente. 1562 G. Legh Accedens of Armory (1597) 115b The mastery of colours must be tawney. 1562 G. Legh Accedens of Armory (1597) 115b The maisterie of the colour must bee Carnation. 1642 T. Fuller Holy State ii. v. 68 A burning-fever, to which his body was naturally disposed, as appeared by the mastery of rednesse in his complexion. †3. a. An action demonstrating or involving great skill or power. to do (also make, work, etc.) (a) mastery: (frequently in plural) to perform a notable deed or wonderful feat, esp. a feat of arms; to play a trick, make mischief; to wreak havoc. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > be versed or skilled [verb (intransitive)] > exercise or show one's skill to do (also make, work, etc.) (a) mastery?c1225 to make maistricec1390 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 285 He..wrachte feole wundres & dude muchele meistries [a1250 Titus maistries] biforen hire. a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 2061 (MED) Hanybal..Wherof the world is yit merveiled Of the maistries that he wroghte. c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 1060 Ye shul wel seen at eye That I wol doon a maistrie er I go. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 12319 (MED) Quen maria had sene þis maistre, Sco hid it in hert priuelie. c1440 (?a1400) Sir Perceval (1930) 1048 Forthe rydez he then,..His maystres to make. c1450 in F. J. Furnivall Hymns to Virgin & Christ (1867) 20 Þe feend away from us þou dryue Whanne deeþ with us maistrie schal make. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 78 (MED) Ther the duke a-bode, and dide many maistries in armes. a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccxxiiii. f. clv Y^e welsh men..brake out vpon the Englysshe men in y^e Bordour..and there made masteryes for a whyle. 1546 J. Bale Actes Eng. Votaryes: 1st Pt. f. 74^v That ye maye knowe..what masteryes they haue played. 1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. E1, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) By a number of odde speeches..you doo yet suppose to haue wrought a mastery. b. to be little mastery: (of an action) to be easy; to be only a minor achievement. Similarly to be great (also no, much, etc.) mastery. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 235 Þo þe clerc adde iseid his enchanterie..silui him let sle, ac þat was lute maistrie. c1330 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Auch.) 1738 Hit were no meistri me to slo For þis is þe ferþe dai agon Mete ne drinke ne bot i non. ?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 109 Þat was a gret maistri Þat þe doȝtir ber þe fader. a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) 1900 Þee prince is good lord þe to; No maistri it is for þe..To be releeued. ?1456 H. at Fenne in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 137 It is no grete maistre to gader vp þat mony. 1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) i. 17 Yt is no more mastery to god to make of ought, & to make of nought. 1576 A. Fleming tr. J. Caius Of Eng. Dogges 17 They [sc. duckes] go so slowely and so leasurely, that to a mans thinking it were no masteryes to take them. 1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 98 By these helpes it was no masterie to vanquish and subdue them. 1625 P. Heylyn Μικρόκοσμος (rev. ed.) 548 As Tully saith, for a man to be good in other places, is no masterie; but in Asia to lead a temperate life, is indeed praise-worthy. a1637 B. Jonson Timber 670 in Wks. (1640) III It is a little Maistry to know them. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 29 Warrs, hitherto the onely Argument Heroic deem'd, chief maistrie to dissect With long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights In Battels feign'd. View more context for this quotation c. A competitive or emulative feat of strength or skill. Esp. in to try (also play, prove, etc.) masteries: to engage in a trial of strength or skill. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > compete or rival [verb (intransitive)] envyc1369 to try (also play, prove, etc.) masteriesa1393 strive?c1450 pingle?a1513 marrow1567 corrive1586 contend1589 tilt1589 to drop vie(s)1599 to prove conclusions1601 to try (a) conclusion1601 rival1608 wage1608 campa1614 vie1615 buzzle1638 side1641 rival1656 urge1691 compete1796 rivalize1800 society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > a competitive feat masterya1393 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. 682 Thei scholden come Unto the gamen..To do such maistrie as thei myhte. ?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) 1028 He proued many maystryes. c1475 (?c1451) Bk. Noblesse (Royal) (1860) 77 King Edwarde iij^de..exersised..all his noble sonnes in suche maiestries wherby they were more apt in haunting of armes. 1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xvii. sig. Hviii The great game of Olympus; wherto..came the moste actife and valiant persons to assay maistries. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. v. f. 24 Many daunsynges..and other tryinge of mastryes. 1594 H. Plat Diuerse Sorts of Soyle 47 in Jewell House [Soil] fitter for gardens, or for the trial of maisteries, then for the enriching of arable or pasture grounds. 1606 P. Holland in tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars Annot. 30* Stage-playes, Gymnicke Exercises, and Masteries in Musicke. 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 108 This is but to try Masteries with Fortune. a1645 D. Featley Orationes Synodicæ vii, in Καταβάπτισται Κατάπτυστοι: Dippers Dipt (1647) 211 Unlesse he prove masteries again, and in another race out-strip his adversary. 1666 Earl of Arlington Let. 6 July in Lett. to W. Temple (1701) 87 Till they have tryed the Mastery with our Fleet. 1697 Philos. Trans. 1695–7 (Royal Soc.) 19 501 They were soon..kill'd like other Venison as well for the sake of Food as Mastery and Diversion. 1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Josephus Jewish Antiq. ii. xiv, in Wks. 51 He [sc. Pharaoh] seemed to take a Vanity..to try Masteries with God Allmighty. 4. a. Masterly or consummate skill, ability, or accomplishment. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [noun] > skill or knowledge > mastery mastery?1316 maistricec1390 mastership1559 masterliness1653 mastercraft1707 mistress-ship1819 masterhood1875 maestria1876 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > intellectual command, mastery > [noun] > skill of a master mastery?1316 maistricec1390 mastership1559 masterhood1875 ?1316 Short Metrical Chron. (Royal) (2002) l. 170 He wes clerk of nigremancie Þat ys an art of gret maistrie. c1350 in T. Silverstein Eng. Lyrics before 1500 (1971) 53 (MED) Wyth what mastrie He hat man ywrouht. c1390 G. Chaucer Miller's Tale 3383 To shewe his lightnesse and maistrye, He pleyeth Herodes vpon a scaffold hye. c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 43 (MED) Whilom clerkes wel ylerede On þre diȝtten þis middelerde, And cleped hem, in her maistre, Europe, Affryke, and Assye. c1450 (a1400) Libeaus Desconus (Calig. A.ii) (1969) 1693 Men of maystrye, Clerkes of nygremansye. 1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 85 This waie argueth maistrie, and..hee who can doe it..needeth not to stand telling his cordes. a1637 B. Jonson Under-woods lii. 16 in Wks. (1640) III O, had I now your manner, maistry, might,..How I would draw. 1680 Earl of Rochester Allusion to Horace i. x. 47 With just bold Strokes he dashes here and there, Showing great Mastery with little Care. 1797 N.Y. Gaz. & Gen. Advertiser 18 Nov. 3/4 (advt.) A beautiful collection of paintings of the best Italian and French mastery. 1830 A. Cunningham Lives Brit. Painters (ed. 2) II. 59 Such mastery rarely waited upon the ambition of this amiable and upright man. 1876 W. Morris Story of Sigurd iv. 351 Their Gods with mastery carven. 1925 B. Rackham in R. Fry et al. Chinese Art 15 When the classic period of T'ang is reached, the potters are working with the easy mastery of artists in their craft. 1986 M. Foot Loyalists & Loners 152 Lloyd George returned to the platform with all his old mastery and relish in the 1920s. b. Command or comprehensive knowledge of a subject, art, or process; pre-eminent skill in a particular sphere of activity; an instance of this. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > scholarly knowledge, erudition > intellectual command, mastery > [noun] gropeOE sciencea1387 mastery1585 mastership1612 grasp1683 grip1861 masterhood1869 1585 R. Bostocke Difference Aunc. & Latter Phisicke sig. Fi Palpable sensible and visible experience, which is the maysteries of Artes and Sciences. 1672 T. Shadwell Miser iv. 56 Now comes my part, to set my braines on work, I'le shew you the mastery of my Art. a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 249 To commend without Desert Requires a Mastery of Art. 1712 J. Henley Spectator No. 396. ⁋2 An uncommon Mastery in the more humane and polite Part of Letters. 1796 F. Burney Camilla I. i. iv. 73 If once..I should conquer the mastery of the classics, I shall make but very short work of all the rest. 1828 M. R. Mitford Let. 27 Oct. in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) ii. xi. 257 She has a mastery of the subject. 1870 B. Disraeli Lothair (new ed.) lii This consummate military leader..was distinguished by..a mastery of method rarely surpassed. 1880 W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor (ed. 3) III. viii. 73 His mastery of English was supreme. 1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 815/1 The construction of such buildings as the palace at Uxmal..indicates a mastery in architectural design. 1992 Times Higher Educ. Suppl. 27 Mar. 33/2 A creative, tireless negotiator, he developed an unrivalled mastery of the nuts and bolts of the trucking industry. c. The action of mastering a subject. ΘΚΠ society > education > learning > [noun] > mastering a subject mastering1730 mastery1797 1797 W. Godwin Enquirer i. vi. 48 It is essential to the just mastery of astronomy. 1856 W. E. Aytoun Bothwell i. xxi. 26 In that dark Italian eye Was craft beyond my mastery. 1870 J. B. Brown First Princ. Eccl. Truth (1871) 219 The problems of Christian ministry become more difficult of mastery year by year. 1938 D. T. Suzuki Zen Buddhism & Infl. Japanese Culture i. iv. 95 The secret documents also contain a number of waka, versified epigrams, in regard to the mastery of swordsmanship. 1996 R. H. Bork Slouching towards Gomorrah ii. xiii. 251 Budding teachers of the young were allowed to avoid competition in the mastery of any subject matter. †5. a. A field of knowledge; an art or science; a method or process relating to an art or science. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > branch of knowledge > [noun] craftOE lorec1290 cunning1340 facultyc1384 sciencea1387 intelligencea1393 disciplinea1398 masterya1425 learning1570 skill1570 doctrine1594 ism1680 ology1811 ography1828 sophya1843 osophy1851 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > branch of knowledge > [noun] > process, method, rule masterya1425 method1570 approach1905 a1425 (?a1350) Seven Sages (Galba) (1907) 1115 (MED) Þe child..wroght al preuely and styll Vntil he kowth al þe maistri. a1475 Bk. Quinte Essence (1889) 9 I wole teche ȝou þe maistrie of departynge of gold fro siluir. a1500 Partenay (Trin. Cambr.) 188 Thys noble Erle..Of astronemye wyse was..So moche ther-of knew he the maistrie. b. Alchemy. = magistery n. 5a. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > alchemy > alchemical processes > [noun] > chemical digestion > substances used in > magistery magisterium1585 magistery1594 mastery1612 magisteriala1627 1612 B. Jonson Alchemist iv. i. sig. H4^v I am the Lord, of the Philosophers Stone... Dol. How Sir, ha' you that? Mam. I am the Master of the Maistry . View more context for this quotation This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.c1225
随便看	authenticated authenticates authenticating authentication authentications authenticator authenticators authenticities authenticity authenticlooking authenticly authenticness authentification authigeneses authigenesis authigenic authigenous author author of a person's being author photo author signing author's correction author's proof author-actor author-created