master

▪ I. master, n.¹
    (ˈmɑːstə(r))
    Forms: 1 mæᵹister, mæᵹester, maᵹister, 2–3 meistre, 2–5 meister, 3 Ormin maȝȝstre, 3–5 maystre, 3–6 maistre, mayster, 3–7, 9 (dial.) maister, 4 maystir, meyster, mesteir, maistere, 4–5 mastir, maystur, 4–6 maistir, 5 meistir, maistur, mastre, ma(y)styr, mastur, 6 muster, maiester, 3– master.
    [ME. meister, -tre, maister, -tre, partly:—OE. mæᵹester, maᵹister, a. L. magister, magistrum, in vulgar Latin pronunciation (ˈmajɛstɛr, -tro), whence also OFris. mâster, mêster, OS. mêster (Du., LG. meester), OHG. (MHG., mod.G.) meister, ON. meistare (Sw. mästare, Da. mester); partly a. OF. maistre (mod.F. maître) = Pr. magestre-s, maestre-s, OSp. mestro, -tre (mod.Sp. maestro, -tre), Pg. mestre, It. maestro, mastro:—L. magistr-um, magister (in OLatin magester), related to magis adv., more, as the correlative minister (see minister n.) to minus less.]
    I. A man having control or authority.
    † 1. a. gen. One having direction or control over the action of another or others; a director, leader, chief, commander; a ruler, governor. Obs.

c 1000 ælfric Exod. i. 11 Witudlice he sette him weorka mæᵹestras [Vulg. magistros operum], þæt hiᵹ ᵹehyndon mid hefeᵹum byrðenum. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 43 And heore [the 12 ‘master devils’] aȝene pine neure nere þe lesse þah heo meistres weren. a 1240 Wohunge in Cott. Hom. 281 Hwen þu wes henged bituhhe twa þeofes, As hwa se seie, He þis is mare þen þeof, And for þi as hare meister he henges ham bituhhen. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 4072 Ðe mestres of ðise hore-men. a 1300 Cursor M. 6408 Moyses þan cald sir iosue And mad him maister o þat semble. 13.. Sir Beues (MS. A) 1643 And, for is meisters [i.e. the two jailers] wer boþe ded, Þre daies after he ne et no bred. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13084 Þe Bretons..toke Preton, þe maister Romayn. c 1450 Merlin xxvii. 549 These foure hit herden that were maistris of the hoste and conditoures. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. i. 104 Quhen thay sett vpon the ennimie..thay pas in ordour, following thair maistiris.

    b. transf. (Chiefly of animals.)

1390 Gower Conf. I. 197 The vessell..Which Maister was of al the Flete. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. v. i. 15 Like stinging Bees..Led by their Maister to the flowred fields. 1710 Rowe tr. Lucan ix. 1237 Some Master of the Herd, some mighty Bull. 1748 Anson's Voy. ii. i. 121 The Master of the herd posted himself fronting the enemy, the rest of the goats being all behind him.

    2. spec. (Naut.) a. The captain of a merchant vessel, called also master mariner (see mariner 1 b); † in early use also pl., ? the officers or the crew. b. The officer (ranking next below a lieutenant) entrusted with the navigation of a ship of war as distinguished from the commander of a ship during warlike operations. Subsequently styled navigating officer (Robinson Brit. Fleet, 1894, p. 406). † c. master and commander: until 1814 the title of the officer in the navy since called commander. Obs.

c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 12085 Þo maistres [v.r. mariners] þat were slie. c 1350 Will. Palerne 2744 Þe maistres..manli in come, & faire at þe fulle flod þei ferden to sayle. 1450 Paston Lett. I. 124 The maister of the Nicolas. 1553 Cabot Ordinances in Hakluyt's Voy. (1589) 259 The master and pilot of euery ship. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. i. (Arb.) 61 An vnhappie Master he is, that is made cunning by manie shippe wrakes. 1594 1st Pt Content. F 1 b, And then enter the Captaine of the ship and the Maister, and the Maisters Mate. 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. ii. 48 The Master, the Swabber, the Boate-swaine & I. 1626 Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 1 The Maister is to see to the cunning the Ship, and trimming the sailes. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 18 Our pilot, or master, as we called him. 1748 Lind Lett. Navy ii. (1757) 76 The master, and some other gentlemen of the Essex. 1801 Nelson in A. Duncan Life (1806) 198 Captain Bedford,..with Captain Gore,..offered their services to serve under a master and commander. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 303 The captain..treated the master with lordly contempt. 1860 Reed's Guide Bk. Local Marine Bd. Exams. 11 A Master must be twenty-one years of age. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 775/1 Pilotage certificates may also be granted..to masters and mates of ships.

    d. master's mate, an officer subordinate to but working with the master of a ship of war. Also fig.

1496 Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 166 The Maisters mate & iiij quartermaisters. 1598 W. Phillip Linschoten i. iii. 4 The Seto Piloto, which is the Masters mate, hath 1200 reyes. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iv. xvi. 322 It often hapning in Commonwealths, that the Masters mate steers the ship thereof, more then the Master himself. 1724 R. Falconer Voy. (1769) 6 There's an excellent Master's Mate. 1836 Marryat Midsh. Easy xviii. 59 The worthy master's mate.

    3. a. One who employs another in his service: correlative with servant, man; also with apprentice, where the original sense is that of branch II.

1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 211 Seruaunts..Takeþ Meede of heore Maystres. c 1386 Chaucer Cook's T. 35 This ioly prentys with his maistir bood. c 1450 Merlin i. 3 The heirdes..tolde their maister the mervelle. 1526 Hundred Mery Tales (1866) 146 Here is nother mayster nor man. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. v. i. 47 My Master will be here ere morning. 1623 Jas. I in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1659) I. 127 He is a happy man that serves a good Master. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 107 ¶1 The general Corruption of Manners in Servants is owing to the conduct of Masters. 1728 Swift My Lady's Lament. 174 Who's master, who's man. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. xiv. 416 A Master may by law correct his apprentice. 1835 Ure Philos. Manuf. 319 List of Prices..as agreed to by Masters and Men. 1843 Carlyle Past & Pr. ii. x, Continued vigilance, rigorous method, what we call ‘the eye of the master’, work wonders. 1843 Borrow Bible in Spain xxxiv, I have lived in many houses and served many masters. 1880 M{supc}Carthy Own Time IV. liv. 171 The masters and the workmen.

    b. Proverbs.

1548 [see like a. 2 d]. 1554 in Strype Eccl. Mem. (1721) III. xxiii. 190 The old proverbe is true..‘such a master, such a servant’. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. vi. §34 He crossed the Proverb, like Master, like Man, the Patron being Cruel, the Chaplain Kinde. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. viii. (1848) 218 Fire and Water, they cannot be so good Servants, but that they are worse Masters. 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables xxxviii. 38 Fire and Water,..are Good Servants, but Bad Masters.

    c. Applied to a sovereign in relation to his ministers or officers. Now chiefly Hist.

1470–85 Malory Arthur iv. xxiii. 151 The woful knyghte told her how his mayster and lorde was bitrayed. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. i. 96 Thay ar bent mair willinglie..gif thair maistir commande thame, to seditione. 1601 Shakes. All's Well iv. v. 75 The King my master. 1611 Bible 1 Sam. xxiv. 6 The Lord forbid that I should doe this thing vnto my master the Lords Anoynted. 1612 Bacon Ess., Fortune (Arb.) 379 Extreme Louers of their Country, or Masters, were neuer fortunate. 1712 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 21 Dec., The Spanish Ambassador desired him to tell me that his master, and the King of France..were more obliged to me than any man in Europe. 1885 Lowe Bismarck I. 396 M. le Comte Benedetti, French Ambassador at Berlin..sped to Vienna with the latest proposal of his master.

    d. In public school use: The boy whom another serves as a fag.

1833 Lytton Eng. & Engl. (ed. 2) II. 108 The fag loathed his master. 1863 [Hemyng] Eton School Days iv. (1864) 42 College rolls..were never so tempting to me when I had been to get them for my ‘master’.

    4. a. The owner of a living creature, as a dog, horse, slave; also, the man whom an animal is accustomed to obey. Also in fig. context.

14.. Sir Beues (MS. M.) 3758 Stedis..With oute maisters. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 188 Þe hunde..gruchid not to be burnyd with his maister bodie. 1535 Coverdale Isa. i. 3 An oxe knoweth his lorde and an Asse his masters stall. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. i. ii. 157 My Dagger muzzel'd, Lest it should bite its Master. 1718 Prior Solomon ii. 424 Till the lov'd dog [should] declare his master near. 1788 Cowper Negro's Complaint iii, Think, ye masters iron-hearted. 1833 Whittier Abolitionists Pr. Wks. 1889 III. 64 A majority of the masters..are disposed to treat their..slaves with kindness. 1863 Woolner My Beautiful Lady 64 An unruly horse Checked by a master's hand. 1884 ‘Rita’ My Lord Conceit I. iii. iii. 297 The little dog..sat..looking as if he were holding a court-martial upon the proceedings of his two little masters.

Proverb. 1605 Camden Rem., Prov. (1614) 313 The Maisters eye maketh the horse fat.

    b. his (or her, my, etc.) master's voice, a catch-phrase, originating from the trade name of a gramophone record company, denoting, freq. ironically, the voice of authority.

[1910 Trade Marks Jrnl. 5 Oct. 1604 His Master's Voice... Talking machines, talking machine needles, talking machine records and other talking machine accessories,..The Gramophone Company, Limited,..London,..manufacturers.] 1922 M. A. von Arnim Enchanted April xviii. 297 ‘Francesca!’ shouted Briggs. She came running... ‘Her Master's Voice,’ remarked Mr. Wilkins. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 465 My master's voice. 1969 ‘H. Pentecost’ Girl with Six Fingers (1970) i. iv. 68 ‘He—he'd hesitate to do anything that would displease Angela.’ ‘Not when he hears his master's voice,’ said Jericho. 1972 R. Quilty Tenth Session 42 Bank's personal secretary..announced..that the doctor would like to see Angus in his office... ‘His master's voice,’ he informed Norman.

    5. a. The male head of a house or household.

1536 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. II. 80 Mr. Shelton saythe he es Master of thys Hows. 1577–87 Holinshed Hist. Scot. 278/1 The people generallie lamenting his death with no lesse sorow..than as is seene in a priuat house for the deceasse of the welbeloued maister and owner thereof. 1611 Bible Exod. xxii. 8 The master of the house shall be brought vnto the Iudges. 1651 Baxter Saints' R. (ed. 2) iii. xiii. §11 The last whom I would perswade to this great Work..is Parents, and Masters of Families. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 82 ¶4 The Master of a Family that wholly depended upon his Life. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) X. 309/1 As a husband, a father, or the master of a family, he was as nearly faultless as the imperfections of humanity will easily permit. 1798 Monthly Mag. V. 395 Mr. Munday, late master of the Falstaff inn. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 123 The master of the house begins first.

    b. With possessive adj.: (One's) husband. dial.

c 1400 Destr. Troy 8430 A fuerse dreme, That she met of hir maister. 1459 Paston Lett. I. 435 As for my mayster, my best beloved that ye call. 1852 Dickens Bleak Ho. viii, I'm a-watching for my master. 1879 J. Fothergill Probation i. xix, A rough ‘measter’ to make and mend and ‘do’ for.

    6. A possessor, owner. Now rare, exc. in the phrase to be master of: to possess, have at one's disposal (now usually, some immaterial thing); often, with approach to sense 15, to have a ‘mastery’ or thorough knowledge of (a subject).

c 1400 Apol. Loll. 55 Wen..þei are opunly maistris of alle iuelis, how are þey not heretyks? a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 58 Whanne that two vices be sette one euelle delite, gladly they bringe her maister into temptacion. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 178 How suld thai be callit sauf condytis, bot gif thai condyte thair maisteris saufly? 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop iii. vi, Synne retorneth euer vpon his mayster. 1563 B. Googe Sonn. (Arb.) 97 Eche Torment..Lyght here vpon this cursed hand..And plague the part that durst presume his Mayster to disgrace. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iv. viii. 229 Divers mines which are..divided betwixt divers Masters. 1607 Dekker & Webster Northw. Hoe iv. i. Wks. 1873 III. 45 Clothes sometimes are better Gentlemen than their Masters. 1608 Merry Devil of Edmonton (1631) 9 To see if he could finde the Maister of the tongue that called him. a 1715 Burnet Own Time (1724) II. 353 Some houses fell and crushed their Masters to death. 1726 Swift Gulliver ii. vi, Those..qualities of mind that he was master of. 1785 J. Trusler Mod. Times III. 29, I was master of more than twenty pounds. 1787 ‘G. Gambado’ Acad. Horsemen (1809) 21 Scarce one of them [dray-horses] but is master of thirty stone or upwards. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 19 Judgement and discretion, which an infant was not master of. 1853 ‘C. Bede’ Verdant Green i. iv, Mr. Filcher was laden with coats and boots that had just been brushed and blacked for their respective masters.

    7. a. One who has the power to control, use, or dispose of something at will. Chiefly pred.

a 1340 Hampole Psalter xvii. 47 God makis vs maysters of vices. c 1400 Gamelyn 314 We wiln be maistres heer. c 1470 Henry Wallace i. 131 Quhar that stayne is, Scottis suld mastir be. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xli. 13 Be now and ay the maistir of ȝour will. c 1510 More Picus Wks. 5/2 He was his owne maister. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 290 b, To be myne owne maister. 1600 Holland Livy 444 They saw the enemies maisters of the land. 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 48 No man is maister of himselfe. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. v. x. 1 Yet are we maisters of the field. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. i. 43 To make themselves Maisters of Affairs. 1693 Humours Town A v, The Master of my own Time. Ibid. 39 Ev'ry Woman that will make a Man Master of her Person..makes him Master of her Purse. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 709 Th' unwary Lover cast his Eyes behind, Forgetful of the Law, nor Master of his Mind. 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 102 It would be a..scandal to him to go off Master of his Legs. 1768 Ann. Reg., Char. (1786) 29/1 Master of the Queen's soul, which he guided as he pleased; [etc.]. 1782 Priestley Corrupt. Chr. II. x. 262 The bishops were almost masters..of France and Germany. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 318 The person who really commands the army is your master; the master (that is little) of your king, the master of your Assembly, the master of your whole republick. 1872 Yeats Growth Comm. 100 You will become masters of all the gold in Christendom. 1874 Green Short Hist. vii. §6. 410 To secure a landing at all, the Spaniards had to be masters of the Channel. 1891 Law Rep., Weekly Notes 200/1 The tenant for life was master of the situation. 1904 People 4 Dec. 17/7 Two..cart horses; suitable for coal or timber merchants; master of two tons.

    b. transf. of things more or less personified.

1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 162 Such a Mayster is Meede A-Mong Men of goode. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 42 Love is maister wher he wile. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. i. 39 Loue is your master. 1633 Bp. Hall Occas. Medit. (1851) 114 An honest man's word must be his master. 1678–9 Dryden & Lee Œdipus i. i, But it's a hard world, neighbours, If a man's oath must be his master. 1797 Godwin Enquirer i. vi. 44 Language is not his master, but he is the master of language. 1873 Bridges Poems, Triolet, When first we met we did not guess That Love would prove so hard a master.

    ¶ c. to be master: to be free to do as one pleases (in a specified matter). [A Gallicism.]

1752 Chesterfield Lett. (1792) III. cclxxxv. 304 Would you saunter at some of the small courts, as Brunswick..? You are master.

    8. One who overcomes another, a victor.

c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 11/342 With þis signe þou schalt maister beo. a 1400 Octavian 923 The people to the wallys can go To see the batelle betwene them two..hys fadur, wo was he Tylle he wyste whych schulde maystyr be. 15.. Smyth & Dame 159 in Hazl. E.P.P. III. 207 Than our Lorde gan say,..Smyth,..Thy mayster thov me call. 1557 Barclay tr. Sallust 84 b, Him which is strongest and is maister hauynge the vpper hand. 1864 Tennyson En. Ard. 31 If they quarrell'd, Enoch stronger-made Was master.

    9. Bowls. [Short for master bowl.] A small bowl placed as a mark for the players to aim at; = Jack n.¹ 18. (Cf. mistress.)

1530 Palsgr. 478/1 Who shall caste the mayster boule? 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse (Arb.) 60 At Bowles euery one craues to kisse the maister. 1600 Heywood 2nd Pt. Edw. IV, iv. iii, This cheese shall be the maister.

    10. a. An original disc († or cylinder) with grooves cut by a stylus during recording. b. (Also master matrix.) A disc with ridges in place of grooves that is made from the plating of an electroplated original and is used as a stamper or (more usually) to make a ‘mother’.

1904 S. R. Bottone Talking Machines & Records 69 With the master running in the phonograph, the trained ears of the specialists enable them to detect the most minute imperfections. 1908 Daily Chron. 29 Oct. 7/1 A special room is devoted to recording, or making the master from which copies are to be taken. 1918 H. Seymour Reproduction of Sound 68 The original master is recorded by means of a feed thread... This is thereupon electro⁓typed—that is, a metallic negative is grown upon it, and this is called the master matrix. A small number of casts in wax are made from this... These are similarly electro⁓typed, and become the working matrices. 1935 H. C. Bryson Gramophone Record vi. 130 (caption) Stripping copper masters from the wax. Ibid. 142 The wax is positive, the copper master is negative, the mother is positive, the stamper is negative, and the record produced from it is therefore positive and will play on a gramophone. 1952 Godfrey & Amos Sound Recording & Reproduction v. 139 Only one master can be prepared from a wax original.., but more than one master can sometimes be made from a lacquer-coated disk. 1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio 259 The master has ridges instead of grooves. In half processing (when only a small run is required) the master is also used as a stamper. 1972 Jazz & Blues Oct. 29/2 The final batch of King Jazz recordings were done in 12{pp} masters.

    c. (See quot. 1958.)

1930 W. Desborough Duplicating & Copying Processes iii. 21 The master is produced in negative or mirror form by placing the face of a special hekto carbon at the back of the sheet of paper on which the master is to be made. 1957 G. W. W. Stevens Microphotogr. xi. 213 The time and care expended on a master negative give it considerable value..therefore..it is advisable to make at least two masters, once the camera has been set up. 1958 T. Landau Encycl. Librarianship 204/2 Master, the original plate or stencil in duplicating processes from which copies are made. In photocopying, the negative from which a positive print is made. 1971 R. Busby Deadlock iv. 39 Could you make that four copies?.. You'll need two for the index apart from this master.

    II. A teacher; one qualified to teach.
    11. A man to whose care a child or children are committed for purposes of instruction; a tutor, preceptor; in later use chiefly a teacher in a school, a schoolmaster; also, a professional teacher of some special subject, as an art or a language.

c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxix. §2 Se unrihtwisa Neron wolde hatan his aᵹenne maᵹister [orig. præceptoremque suum]..acwellan. a 1225 Ancr. R. 64 Sum is so wel ilered..þet heo wolde þet he wuste hit; þe sit & spekeð..& bicumeð meister, þe schulde beon ancre. 13.. K. Alis. 665 The sevethen maister taught his pars. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 435 Þe childes maister siȝ þat, and slow þe sewere anon. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 185 It sittethe a maister..at large to teche his lesson. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. viii. 126 He..was elected maister to the prince. 1599 Shakes., etc. Pass. Pilgr. xv, It was a Lording's daughter..That liked of her maister as well as well might be. 1694 Boyer (title) The compleat French-master. A short grammar, [etc.]. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 168 ¶3, I was bred myself, Sir, in a very great School, of which the Master was a Welchman. 1770 Goldsm. Des. Vill. 196 The village master taught his little school. 1856 (title) French in a fortnight without a Master. 1867 C. S. Parker in Quest. Reformed Parl. 164 Without consulting the vicar, he dismisses the certificated master.

    12. He whose disciple one is; the teacher (in religion, philosophy, art, science, or scholarship) from whom one has chiefly learned, or whose doctrines one accepts. the (our, my, his, etc.) Master: often applied to Christ, with mixture of sense 3.

c 1200 Ormin 12898 Þatt ta twa Lerninngcnihhtess Herrdenn whatt teᵹᵹre maᵹᵹstre spacc Off Christ [etc.]. a 1300 Cursor M. 20915 His maister..And he aght noght haf al a dome, For he was noght worþi þer-till. 1382 Wyclif John iii. 10 Art thou a maistir in Israel, and knowist not thes thingis? 1412–20 Lydg. Troy-bk. end (Schick), My maister Chaucer. 1529 More Dyaloge ii. Wks. 179/2 Yet bee there not onely as many sectes almoste as men, but also the maisters them selfe chaunge theyr mindes and theyr oppynions euery daye. 1533 Gau Richt Vay (1888) 25 We neid noder to seik or leir of oder vane maisters quhat guid warkis we suld dw. 1629 Mure True Crucifix 3125 With hearts right set, their Maister's will to know. 1748 Thomson Cast. Indol. ii. lii, Ne had my master Spenser charmed his Mulla's plains. 1771 Burke Corr. (1844) I. 284 The advice of one of our great masters in the science of life and morals. 1827 Willis Healing Daughter Jairus 57 Closer drew The twelve disciples to their Master's side. 1843 Borrow Bible in Spain xxxviii, Why should I be ashamed of their company when my Master mingled with publicans and thieves? 1904 Saintsbury Hist. Crit. III. 427 John Keats..and his master Leigh Hunt.

    † 13. a. A man of approved learning, a scholar of authority. Obs.

a 1225 Leg. Kath. 120 Modi meistres & fele fondeden hire ofte o swiðe fele halue, for to undernimen hire. a 1300 Cursor M. 11462 And did he suith to samen call Þe maisters of his kingrik all, And fraind at þaim if þai wist, Quar suld he be born, þat crist. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. x. 384 Maistres þat of goddis mercy techen men and prechen. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 179 And as for me and othir maisteris and doctouris, me think this the rycht oppin. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxviii. §1 Terming..Scribes and interpreters of the law, Masters.

    b. Master of the Sentences (magister sententiarum), the name given to Peter Lombard, Bishop of Paris in the 12th c., from his book Sententiarum libri quatuor, a collection of patristic comments on passages of Holy Scripture. Master of Stories (magister in historiis), a name given to Petrus Comestor, from his work called Historia Scholastica.

c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 2 [Of the Essenes] spekeþ þe maister of stories. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VIII. 43 He wroot aȝenst þe maister of þe sentence [1432–50 sentencez]. 1398 ― Barth. De P.R. xiii. xii, As y⊇ mayster sayth in Historiis. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. vi. vi. 8. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. ii. xxv. §11 The first writings of the fathers, whence the Master of the Sentences made his sum.

    14. In academic sense, = med.L. magister: One who has received a specific degree, originally conveying authority to teach in the university. In English use before the 19th c. confined to the Faculty of Arts (the corresponding title in the other faculties being doctor): the full designation of the graduate is in L. artium magister, in Eng. Master of Arts (formerly † Master of Art), denoted by the abbreviation M.A. or (now rarely, exc. in the U.S.) A.M. In more recent times the degrees of Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master in or of Surgery (Magister Chirurgiæ, M.Ch.), etc. have also been awarded.
    Master of Divinity, Theology (obs. exc. Hist.), titles belonging to graduates of certain continental universities.

138. Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 376 Capped freris, þat ben calde maystres of dyvynite. c 1400 Rom. Rose 6553 The maistres of divinitee Somtyme in Paris. c 1425 [see art n. 7]. 1484 Caxton Fables of Poge ad fin., There were duellynge in Oxenford two prestes bothe maystres of arte. 1494, 1604 [see regent n. 3 a]. 1573 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 2 This is mi year to commens master in. a 1661 Fuller Worthies i. (1662) 150 A Boisten horse and a Cambridge Master of Art, are a couple of Creatures that will give way to nobody. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 39 ¶4 Being a Master of Arts of Oxford. 1847 Prescott Peru (1855) II. v. i. 215 He [Pedro de la Gasca] received the degree of Master of Theology. 1853 ‘C. Bede’ Verdant Green i. iv, Please not to walk on the grass, sir; there's a fine agen it, unless you're a Master. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 835/1 It is in this licence [licentia docendi] that the whole significance of the master of arts degree is contained. Ibid. 835/2 ‘Regents’, that is, masters actively engaged in teaching. 1900 Oxford Univ. Calend. 71 Fees... Before the Examination for the Degree of Master of Surgery, {pstlg}5.

    15. a. Originally, a workman who is qualified by training and experience to teach apprentices and to carry on his trade on his own account. (Chiefly in appositional combs., as master carpenter etc., for which see 25 d.) Hence, (a) a workman who is in business on his own account, as distinguished from a journeyman; in modern use merged in sense 3; (b) a workman of approved skill, one who thoroughly knows his trade; also transf. and fig.

c 1400 Destr. Troy 8733 Þo maisturs gert make a meruelous toumbe. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon x. 265, I sholde goo gyve you suche a stroke..that ye sholde saye it is a stroke of a maister. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xxiv. 140 An ingenious maister..proposed vnto him [Alexander] that..he would make to be cut in humain figure, the mount of Athos. 1693 Humours Town 35 Masters in their Profession. 1706 E. Ward Wooden World Diss. (1708) 27 In this kind of Billingsgate Clashing he's a much greater Master, than [etc.]. 1759 Johnson Rasselas vi. (1893) 50 He..found the master busy in building a sailing chariot. 1829 Southey Sir T. More II. 174 A craft in which any one may commence master, without having served an apprenticeship.

    † b. Used predicatively without article (quasi-adj.) with the sense ‘highly skilled’. Const. inf.

1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9325 Mayster he is to bitraye, is word is al falshede. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xix. (Cristofore) 84 Þe dewil is mare master þan þu. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxiv. 499, I am mayster for to begge brede. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. vii. 387 He was a man master in the art of dissembling. 1722 Ramsay Monk & Miller's Wife 137 Think ye..his gentle stamock's master To worry up a pint of plaister.

    16. a. An artist of distinguished skill, one of those who are regarded as models of excellence in their art. old master: a ‘master’ who lived before the period accounted ‘modern’; chiefly applied to painters from the 13th to the 16th or 17th century.

1533, 1651 [see fence n. 2]. 1598 R. Haydocke tr. Lomazzo's Art Paint. i. 23 Raphaell, Perino del Vaga,..and all other famous Maisters. 1622 Peacham Compl. Gent. xi. 102 Peter Phillips,..now one of the greatest Masters of Musicke in Europe. 1662 Evelyn Chalcogr. 36 Albert Durer [at the age of 10–14] performing such things as might shame most of the best Masters. 1703 Rowe Fair Penit. ii. i. 530 Let the Master touch The sprightly String. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 129 ¶1 Great Masters in Painting never care for drawing People in the Fashion. 1747 J. Godfrey Sci. Defence 18, I have now done with the Small-Sword, and shall only do Justice to the Merits of two or three Masters. 1757 Gray Bard 21 With a Master's hand, and Prophet's fire. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XIII. 609/1 The observations of ancient authors on the best paintings of the ancient masters. Ibid. 615/2 A painter ought attentively to consider..all the different styles of the great masters. 1840 Penny Cycl. XVII. 145/2 As a painter of animals, Edwin Landseer far surpasses any of the old masters. 1841–4 Emerson Ess., Art Wks. (Bohn) I. 149 The pictures of the Tuscan and Venetian masters. 1869 ‘Mark Twain’ Innoc. Abr. 260 Who painted these things? Why, Titian..Raphael—none other than the world's idols, the ‘old masters’. 1870 B. Harte Dickens in Camp iv, He read aloud the book wherein the Master Had writ of ‘Little Nell’. 1889 G. B. Shaw in Hawk 13 Aug. 172/2 Behind the Master's house is the Master's grave; for Wagner..is ‘buried in the back garden, sir, like a Newfoundland dog’. 1897 Mrs. E. Lynn Linton Geo. Eliot in Women Novelists 101 A task beyond the power of any but the few Masters of our literature. 1908 Pop. Mechanics Nov. 741/2 A Munich artist and inventor has devised an electric machine by which the famous paintings of the ‘old masters’ can be renewed. 1937 H. G. Wells Camford Visitation v. 58 All his fancied novelties of criticism were fully foreseen by the Master [sc. Karl Marx]. 1959 Times 20 Aug. 9/5 In calling the anonymous hero of The Aspern Papers ‘H. J.’ I may have misled a few people into thinking that I have attempted to make ‘the publishing scoundrel’ into a portrait of ‘The Master’. 1962 Listener 14 June 1043/3 The style, a pastiche of Nabokov's..is a style less functional, more baroque, than the Master's.

    b. Used for: A work (of painting or sculpture) by a master. Now only with qualification, as old master, and occasionally modern master. The Old Masters: the name given to the annual Winter Exhibition of the Royal Academy from the name of the first exhibition (1870), ‘Exhibition of the Works of the Old Masters’.

[1694 Dryden Sir G. Kneller 141 Those masters, then but seen, not understood, With generous emulation fired thy blood.] 1752 Foote Taste ii. Wks. 1799 I. 18 'Tis a thousand pities that any of these masters should quit England. 1824 J. Fisher Let. 18 Jan. in C. R. Leslie Mem. Life J. Constable (1845) viii. 130, I am shut up in lodgings here,—the walls covered with old masters. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles xxviii. 287 As a picture-dealer stares at an alleged old master. 1861 G. Meredith Let. 19 Nov. (1970) I. 111 He is in new chambers full of pictures, Old Masters, we hear. 1870 Times 3 Jan. 5/1 Exhibition of old masters at the Royal Academy. The noble new rooms of the Royal Academy..the place of exhibition of a selection from the finest works of the old masters in English private galleries, opened..for the public today. 1880 Geo. Eliot Let. 5 Feb. (1956) VII. 248 If you had come to town you would have liked to see..the Old Masters at the Academy but perhaps you may yet come before they are removed. 1890 G. B. Shaw London Music in 1888–89 (1937) 284 My ticket for the Press view at the Old Masters on Friday! 1908 Outlook 19 Dec. 848/2 The disappointment at the prospect of no Old Masters exhibition this winter is barely mitigated by the menu of the banquet provided by the McCulloch collection. 1968 S. C. Hutchison Hist. R. Acad. xiii. 141 The Old Masters Exhibition of 1879 was conceived on a much larger scale than its forerunners and occupied nine galleries. 1975 Times 23 June 12 The value of Old Masters is perhaps more subjectively determined than in any other field... The Old Master market has been very strong in the 1970s.

    c. spec. in Chess. Cf. chess-master, grand master 4.

1852 H. Staunton Chess Tournament p. l, To reward the ability of first-rate masters throughout the world, they offered..prizes. 1910 Encycl. Brit. VI. 104/1 The terms master and amateur are not used in any invidious sense, but simply as designating, in the former case, first-class players, and in the latter, those just on the borderland of highest excellence. 1969 Times 25 Jan. 17/7 There are three types of F.I.D.E. master title: international grand⁓master, international master, and international woman master. 1973 Daily Tel. 25 Apr. 16/3 After six of the 11 rounds of the Birmingham International Chess Tournament, Tony J. Miles, 18, the Birmingham schoolboy, still leads the mixed concourse (one grand master, several international masters, candidate masters and others). 1973 Sci. Amer. June 93/2 Kalme is a senior master with a rating of 2,455 on the International Chess Federation scale, on which 2,200 denotes a master and Fischer's rating is 2,785.

    III. As a specific title of office.
    17. The head or presiding officer of many societies or institutions: e.g. of certain colleges (in Oxford, Cambridge, and elsewhere), guilds, corporations, livery companies, etc. (in some of which, however, the title is given not to the head but to the members of an administrative body subordinate to him), hospitals, etc. Formerly also used for grand-master, great master (see 20), the title of the head of a military order. Also with postfixed adj. (after med.L.) in the titles of dignitaries of monastic and other religious organizations, as master-general, master provincial.
    † Master of Prussia (Pruse, Pruseland): the grand-master of the Teutonic Order. Master of the Temple: (a) Hist. the grand-master of the Knights Templar; (b) the principal clergyman of the Temple Church, London, appointed by royal letters patent.

1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 4 Þe maistres & bretheren tofore said. 1427 in Heath Grocers' Comp. (1869) 4 John Melborne, John Olyve, Maistres. 1430–1 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 370/2 Master and Prestes of the Chapell. 1442 Ibid. V. 65/2 The Kyng wille and is disposed, to sende his Letters to the Maistr' of Pruce. 1463–4 Ibid. 502/2 Every Mayer, where Mayer is; every Maister, where Maister is, where noo Mayer is. 1550 Crowley Way to Wealth B j, A Maister of an house in Oxforde or Cambridge. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 48 b, Albert of Brandenburge, master of Pruselande [orig. 95 Prussiæ Magister]. 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. ii. (Arb.) 143 Pelting matters, soch as in London commonlie cum to the hearing of the Masters of Bridewell. 1586 Reg. Privy Council Scot. IV. 74 Maisteris Andro and James Melvillis, maisteris of the New College. 1642–6 in Quincy Hist. Harvard Univ. (1840) I. 517 The Overseers and Master of the College. 1648 Gage West Ind. 210 Fryer Nicholus Rodulfius of the same whole Order [of Preachers] Master Generall... Fryer Nicholas Master of the Order... Fryer Ignatius Ciantes Master Provinciall of England. 1654 Gataker Disc. Apol. 36 Mr. Masters Master of the Temple. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. I. 101 He was made Master of Balliol Coll. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Templars, a Religious Order, which..had a Governour..in England, who was styled Master of the Temple..: Whence the chief Minister of the Temple-Church in London..is still dignify'd with that Title. 1722 in Cox Old Constit. Masons (1871) 23 A Lodge of five Free-Masons, at the least, whereof one to be a Master or Warden of that Limit or Division where such Lodge shall be kept. 1762 tr. Busching's Syst. Geog. V. 450 Master of the Teutonick order in Germany. 1825 Scott Talism. ix, The celebrated Master of the Templars. 1829 Heath Grocers' Comp. (1869) p. vii, The Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Grocers. 1853 ‘C. Bede’ Verdant Green i. iv, Mr. Verdant Green..proceeded with his father to Brazenface College to call upon the Master. 1876 Firth Munic. Lond. 50 The name of ‘Livery Company’ has remained... The control by Master or Wardens of the dress of members has ceased.

    18. In the designations of certain legal functionaries, as Master of the (or in) Chancery, (a) until 1852, one of the twelve assistants to the Lord Chancellor, the chief of whom was Master of the Rolls; (b) since 1897 any one of four chief clerks of the Chancery Division of the Supreme Court; Master of the Court (Master of Common Pleas, Master of the King's Bench, Master of the Exchequer), any one of five officers in each of those courts (now, in the corresponding division of the Supreme Court) charged with the duty of recording the proceedings.
    Also Master of the Faculties, see faculty n. 11 b; Master in Lunacy, see lunacy n. 1; Master of the Requests († M. of Request), see request; Master of the Wards (and Liveries), see ward.

1425 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 306/1 Maistres of ye Chauncerie beyng occupied in ye Chauncerie. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XIII. 763/1 On the other wool-sacks are seated the judges, masters in chancery, and king's council. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) IV. 260 The usual order was obtained, referring it to the Master to inquire whether a good title could be made. 1837 Act 7 Will. IV & 1 Vict. c. 30 §3 There shall be in each of the said Courts..Five Principal Officers, and no more, to be called respectively the Masters of each of the said Courts. 1846 Act 9 & 10 Vict. c. 95 §62 A Master Extraordinary in Chancery. 1853 Dickens Bleak Ho. i, Every master in Chancery has had a reference out of it [Jarndyce and Jarndyce]. 1886 Encycl. Brit. XX. 342/1 In the Queen's Bench Division..the duty of registrars is performed by the masters. 1891 Law Times XCII. 107/1 Application was made by the plaintiff [in the Court of Q.B.], to a master at chambers, for leave to issue execution. 1897 Westm. Gaz. 4 Mar. 10/1 The Chancery chief clerks are henceforth to be styled ‘Masters’.

    19. a. In many designations of officials having duties of the nature of control, superintendence, or safe-keeping, as † Master of Assay = assay-master; † M. of the Coin = M. of the Mint; M. of the (King's, Queen's) Household (also Sc. † Master Household), an officer under the Steward of the Royal Household; M. of the Jewel-house, the keeper of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London; M. of the (King's) Music, an officer of the Royal Household, the conductor of the King's band; † M. of the Posts (see quot. 1706); M. of the Robes, Master of the Wardrobe, the keeper of the ‘great’ wardrobe of the King, Queen, or other exalted personage; Master of (the) Works or (now dial.) Work, an official who superintends building operations.
    For Master of Ceremonies, M. of the Mint, M. of Misrule, M. of the Revels, M. of the Rolls, see the second ns.

1423 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 256/2 The forsaid Maistre of the koyne. Ibid., The Maister of the mynte aforeseid. 1454 Ibid. V. 273/2 Bi th' oversight of the Maistir of the Werks there. 1528 St. Papers Hen. VIII, VII. 61 The Maister of the Postes shall gyve horses to noo man, oonles [etc.]. 1529 in Proc. Soc. Ant. Scot. XXX. (1896) 53 Ane lettre..makand hym maister of wark within the castell of Striveling. 1548 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. III. 297 The M{supr} housholde to the Quene. a 1578 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I 334 Maister houshald witht mony wther offeceris. 1597–8 Act 39 Eliz. c 7 §12 Maister of the Juell House. Ibid., Master of the Warderobe. 1677 in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 42 Master of the Robes to the Duke. 1696 Phillips, Master of the King's Houshold. 1703 Lond. Gaz. No. 3914/4 His Grace..was served at Table by..the Duke of Argyle, as Master Houshold. 1704 in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS Comm) I. 352 Your son shall have the reversion of the Master of the Great Wardrobe for life. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Master of Assay. Ibid., Master of the Posts, was an Officer of the King's Court, who had the appointing of all such throughout England as provided Post-horses for the speedy passing of the King's Messages, &c. 1901 Lond. Gaz. 8 Oct. 6569 Sir Walter Parratt, M.V.O., to be Master of The King's Music in Ordinary to His Majesty.

    b. Mil. in various titles of command, as † Master of the Armoury, † M. of the Artillery; Master (General) of the Ordnance, the controller of the Ordnance and Artillery (subsequently, the head of the Board of Ordnance). Also (in translations from Latin of Fr.) † master of chivalry.

1382 Wyclif Gen. xxxvii. 36 Putiphar, the geldyng of Pharao, the mayster of chyualrye. 1485 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 354/2 The Offices of Maister of oure Ordinaunces and Maister of oure Armery. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. i. vii, The souerayn maystre of the chyualrye of the prynce. 1512 Aberdeen Reg. (1844) I. 83 Maisteris of the said artailȝerie. 1533 Bellenden Livy ii. xviii. (S.T.S.) 159 Spurius cassius [was] þe first maister of cheuelrie. 1548 Patten Exp. Scot. A i b, Syr Fraunces Flemmynge knight, master of the ordinaunce. 1597–8 Act 39 Eliz. c. 7 §12 The Maister and Leiftenaunte of the Ordynance,..Maister of the Armory, [and others]. 1695 Lond. Gaz. No. 3131/3 The Earl of Romney Master-General of the Ordnance. 1863 H. Cox Instit. iii. viii. 708 The Master-General of the Ordnance.

    c. master of the horse: (a) the officer who has the management of the horses belonging to a sovereign or other exalted personage; in England, the title of the third official of the royal household (formerly sometimes † m. of horses); also rarely transf. in jocular use, a head groom or stableman; (b) Antiq. used as transl. of L. magister equitum, master of the ‘knights’ or horsemen (cf. horse n. 3 b), under the Roman republic the title of the commander of the cavalry appointed by a dictator.

(a) 1449 Rolls of Parlt. V. 154/1 By the avys of the Maister of the Kyngs Hors for the tyme beyng. c 1450 Bk. Curtasye 611 in Babees Bk., A maystur of horsys a squyer þer is. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 735 Sir John Cheiney, maister of the Kinges horses. 1570–81 in Digges Compl. Ambass. (1655) 303 The Emperors Ambassador, who is Master of the horse. 1754 Richardson Grandison (1811) I. xxxv. 258, I was to be this gentleman's master of the horse abroad. 1886 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 37/2 The master of the horse is the third dignitary of the court.

(b) 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xvii. II. 33 note, The masters of the horse of the ancient dictators.

    d. The official custodian of certain animals kept for sport or pleasure. Formerly in many titles of office in the English court, as Master of the Bears, Master of the Hawks, Master of the Swans; now chiefly in Master of the Buckhounds, the fourth great officer of the household. Also Master of the Game: the officer entrusted with the preservation of game in certain royal forests; occas. jocularly a gamekeeper.

c 1410 Master of Game (MS. Digby) fol. 3 The whiche booke shall..be named..maistre of game. 1449 Rolls of Parlt. V. 167/2 William Brocas Squyer, Maister of your Bukhounds. 1485 Ibid. VI. 354/1 The Office of Maister of the Herthunds. Ibid. 360/2 The Office of Maister of oure Swannes. Ibid. 365/2 Maister and Rueler of the Kings Beres. 1530 Palsgr. 916/1 The master of hawkes, le grant faulconner. 1671 F. Phillips Reg. Necess. 132 M{supr}. Pitcarnes (the Master of the Hawkes) Man. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 118 ¶2 Sir Roger's Master of the Game. 1860 Forster Gr. Remonstr. 104 The fee of the Master of the Cocks [under James I] exceeded the united salaries of two Secretaries of State. 1886 Encycl. Brit. XXI. 38/1 The master of the buckhounds, who is also one of the ministry, ranks next to him [sc. the master of the horse].

    e. master of hounds: one who owns, or has the control of, a pack of hounds; usually, the member of a hunt who is elected to have the control of the kennels and of the hunting arrangements generally; chiefly equivalent to master of foxhounds (abbreviated M.F.H.). Also in m. of beagles, harriers, staghounds, etc., and with the designation of a particular pack of hounds.

1781 Cowper Progr. Error 114 He takes the field, the master of the pack Cries—‘Well done, saint!’ and claps him on the back. 1852 R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour (1893) 130 Masters of hounds are always jealous of each other... No man in the master-of-hound world is too insignificant for censure. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Sports 101 The master of a pack of foxhounds, staghounds, or even of harriers, ought [etc.]. 1868 Holme Lee B. Godfrey xxviii. 147 Sir Ralph has the hounds, and is a very good master. 1881 Encycl. Brit. XII. 394/2 It is the master's duty to say what covers are to be drawn. 1899 T. M. Ellis Three Cats-eye Rings 29 The master of the Storr-hinton beagles.

    † 20. great master. = grand-master 1 and 2.

1524 in Hakluyt's Voy. II. i. 86 The massife of Spaine made by the reuerend lord great master Mery d'Amboise. 1531 Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) I. 341 His Highnes also woll that ye shall moue the gret maister [of France] in that behalf. 1547 Earl of Sussex in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 137 The Lord St. John lord president of the Counsaile and Gret Master. 1577 F. de L'isle's Legendarie A viij b, The Constable at that time great master and Marshal of France entreated for him. 1685 Lond. Gaz. No. 2114/1 The great Master [of the Knights of Malta] has given Orders [etc.].

    IV. As a title of rank or compliment.
    21. Used vocatively as a term of respect or politeness. a. sing. = Sir. Now only in uneducated use. b. pl. (in later times always my masters) = Sirs, gentlemen. Now arch. or rhetorical, chiefly in ironical or derisive context.
    In the first quot. rendering L. magister, prob. applied to Nectanabus as being a man of learning.

1340–70 Alisaunder 587 Þe Queene..quikly saide, ‘Maister, welcome, ywis; will[e] yee sitte?’ 1536 in Wriothesley Chron. (Camden) I. 39 The Lord of Rochford..sayde these wordes..on the scaffolde..Maisters all, I am come hither not to preach and make a sermon. 1563 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 244 Sa hes it plesit the Quenis Majestie, my maisters, to grant the lik commissioun. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. i. 152 Farwell my Masters, to my Taske will I. 1602 ― Ham. ii. ii. 440 Y'are welcome Masters, welcome all. 1608 Middleton (title) A mad World, my Masters. 1653 Walton Compl. Angler 85 Come on my masters, who begins? 1798 Wordsw. ‘We are Seven’ 64 ‘O Master! we are seven’. 1837 Marryat Dog Fiend xxix, ‘Put up your fiddle, master’. 1843 Borrow Bible in Spain xxxi, Many is the wetting that you will get, my masters, before you reach Oviedo. 1903 Eng. Dial. Dict., Master, a term of address to a superior or stranger; Sir.

    22. A title prefixed to the name or designation of a man. Originally used only in speaking of or to a man either of high social rank or of learning (sometimes, esp. in Scotland, applied spec. to a Master of Arts), but gradually extended in application. In ordinary use now only dial., but in literature sometimes arch. or Hist.; otherwise superseded by (pronounced ˈmɪstə(r)).
    The obscured pronunciation resulting from proclitic use doubtless began while the written form master was still commonly employed. Before the end of the 17th c. the abbreviation Mr. (originally only one among many others used for the word in all applications) had come to be restricted to the use in which the pronunciation was obscured, and to be the only permitted mode of writing the word in that use. Thenceforward master and Mr. were practically two words, distinct both in function and in form. In this Dictionary the abbreviation Mr., in all its historical varieties of use, is treated in its alphabetical place.
    a. Prefixed to a surname or a Christian name.
    Down to the 16th c. or a little later, master could be prefixed to the name of a knight or a bishop; at an earlier period it was freely used with the names of personages of ancient history and ancient writers. Some modern dialects have only one form for Master and Mr. as prefixed titles; others have both prefixes with a difference of function, Mr. being the superior title. (See E.D.D.)

1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8722 Maister willam gyffard he ȝef þe bissopriche Of winchestere & maister anselin þe erche⁓bissopriche. a 1300 Cursor M. 6936 Fosterd he was And lered wit maister moyses. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 57 One Mayster Wace þe Frankes telles, Þe Brute, all þat þe Latyn spelles. 1425 W. Paston in P. Lett. I. 19 Maister John Ixworthe told me that he hadde lettres fro a frende of yowres. 1459 Aberdeen Reg. (1844) I. 22 Maister John of Levington, vicar of Inuerugy. 1532 in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. iii. II. 252, I have harde hym soo often breke Master Precyens hede. 1563–83 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 4) 1770 Maister Latymer encouraged Maister Ridley when both were at the stake. 1570 Ane Trag. 8 in Satir. Poems Reform. x. 82 Schir Morpheus..led me captiue vnto Maister Slumber. 1579 Spenser (title) The Shepheardes Calender... Entitled to..M. Philip Sidney. 1612 Webster White Devil To Rdr., The right happy and copious industry of Master Shakespeare, Master Dekker, and Master Heywood. 1650 B. Discolliminium 33, I could wish we might be allow'd to call him Master Charles, for most men thinke He is a Gentleman borne. 1861 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 45 Two allegorical pieces by Master Hans Holbein.

    † b. Prefixed to a title of office or profession, or occas. to a personal designation of some other kind.

1470–85 Malory Arthur x. lix. 514 Maister maronners said sire Tristram what meaneth that letter. 1523 St. Papers Hen. VIII, VI. 122 The Popis Holynes, informed by Maister Doctor Hanibal of my commyng, sent word that I shulde tary a day. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 54 The master of the rolles & master Subdeane with other doctours unknowen. 1548 Patten Exped. Scot. A ij, My lorde Lieuetenaunt and Master Treasurer [of the Army]. 1550 Bale Apol. 42 But tell me maistre person, who hath taught yow to playe so wycked partes as these are. a 1555 Latimer Let. in Foxe A. & M. (1583) 1741 They..craftely defeated mayster Maiors appoyntment. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iv. ii. 87 Marry M. Schoolmaster, hee that is likest to a hogshead. 1599 ― Much Ado iii. iii. 17 Master Constable. 1607 ― Timon iv. ii. 1 Here you M. Steward, where's our Master? 1609 B. Jonson Sil. Wom. v. i, Cut. By your fauour Master Parson— Ott. You shall giue me leaue, Master Doctor. 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. ii. ix. 116 And yet master Parson must not be called couetous. 1640 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 125 Master Speaker, the first Writs that were sent out.. I..was as ignorant of, as any one Member of this House.

    23. a. In early use (my) young master, little master, occur as designations applied by servants and inferiors generally to the boys and young men of the families of their superiors. App. as a development from this mode of expression, the word master (after the phonetic separation of Mr.) came to be the usual prefix to the name of a young gentleman not considered old enough to be entitled to be called ‘Mr.’. Hence occas. masters and misses = young people. Also † master-miss: an effeminate youth.

1563–83 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 4) 1596 The time was thought to be nie, that this young Maister [Queen Mary's expected child] should come into the world. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 52 Talke you of yong Maister Launcelet? 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster i. i, Young master, master Ovid, doe you heare? 1693 Dryden Jr. Juvenal xiv. 6 If Gaming does an Aged Sire entice, Then my Young Master swiftly learns the Vice. 1710 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 13 Dec., Maids, misses, and little master..in a third [coach]. 1720 ― Mod. Educ. Wks. 1755 II. ii. 35 These wretched pedagogues are enjoyned..that master must not walk till he is hot. 1754 Foote Knights ii (? 1778) 5 The master-misses of the present age. 1754 Richardson Grandison (1811) II. xxix. 304 Miss Cantillon, Miss Barnevelt, and half a dozen more misses and masters. 1760 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. I. 18 Lord Richard and some other masters of quality about his age. 1775 in J. L. Chester Westm. Abbey Reg. (1876) 419 May 12, Master Frederick Gell; aged 12 days. 1776 Ibid. 241 Mar. 20, Master Albany-Charles Wallis, a Westminster scholar; in his 14{supt}{suph} year. 1824 S. E. Ferrier Inher. xxxii, Well-dressed, talking, smiling, flirting masters and misses. 1849 Dickens Dav. Copp. iii, Wait a bit, Master Davy, and I'll—I'll tell you something. c 1874 D. Boucicault in M. R. Booth Eng. Plays of 19th Cent. (1969) II. 201 Did you see the young master? 1898 G. B. Shaw Plays, You never can tell II. 242, I presume, sir, you are Master Philip. Philip. I was Master Philip..; just as you were once Master Finch. 1923 Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves i. 9 He had been clearing away the breakfast things, but at the sound of the young master's voice cheesed it courteously.

    b. Prefixed, with disparaging implication, to the name of an adult.

1885 C. M. Yonge Nuttie's Father II. ix. 105 I'm not going to have a tête-à-tête with Master Mark. 1959 Listener 22 Jan. 155/2, I never liked Jinnah... I thought a great deal of his ambition was for Master Jinnah rather than anything else. 1975 T. Heald Deadline vii. 151, I think you'll find Master Wimbledon will do very well at anything if he thinks it will further his career. He's an exceedingly ruthless and ambitious young man.

    24. The heir-apparent to a Scottish peerage (below the rank of earl; formerly, below that of marquis) is in many instances known as The Master of―; the specific designation being usually identical with the baronial title of the family.

1489 Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl. (1877) I. 107 The Maister of Crafurde. 1530 Aberdeen Reg. (1844) I. 139, I Johne Lord Forbes..becummiss souerte..for myself, Johne Maister of Forbes, my sone [etc.]. 1548 Patten Exped. Scot. B vii, Anderwyke perteined to the lorde of Hambleton, and was kept by hys sonne & heyre (whom, of custume they call the Master of Hambleton). 1569 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 2 Johnne Maister of Grahame nepote and heyre to the Erll of Montroise. Ibid., William Maister Marschell sone to the Erll Marschell. Ibid. 37 Quhilk Andro..presentit to him ane writting of the Maister of Marschellis. 1584 Ibid. III. 644 M{supr}. Thomas Lyoun, Master of Glammis. 1641 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) I. 379 Before King James went to England, noblemens eldest sonnes were bot Masters, and their younger brethren pretended not to take place of Barrons. 1798 Monthly Mag. VI. 437 The Viscount of Arbuthnott's eldest son is stiled Master of Arbuthnott. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. ix, The Master of Ravenswood led the way.

    V. Attributive uses and Combinations.
    25. Used appositively or as adj. in the sense ‘that is a master’. a. Formerly prefixed freely to all kinds of designations of persons, with the sense ‘chief’, ‘leading’, ‘commanding’. Now rhetorical, with implication of imposing greatness or power, esp. in master spirit (after Shakes.).

c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 41 And þa welle bi-wisten .xii. meister deoflen swilc ha weren kinges. c 1200 Ormin 7454 Wass maᵹᵹstredwale, an defless þeww, Þatt Arriuss wass nemmned. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3756 Meistres princes he wolden hem maken. a 1300 Cursor M. 13594 Þe maisters Iuus þan bigan To mistru o þis sinful seli man. a 1300 K. Horn 659 Þe meyster kinges heued He haddit him by reued. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxviii. (Margaret) 502 Scho ourcumyne had Þe maister feynd. 1382 Wyclif Jer. li. 23, I shall hurtle in thee dukes and the maister ȝugis [Vulg. magistratus]. a 1400 Octavian 559 Þe maysterowtlawe spake thene. c 1449 Pecock Repr. v. i. 478 In ȝou schulen be maistris liers, that schulen bringe yn sectis of perdicioun. c 1450 Merlin xxiii. 436 Merlin is maister Counseller to kynge Arthur. 1575 Gamm. Gurton iv. ii, The master-deuil, Belsabub. 1590 J. Stockwood Rules Construct. A iij b, My master schollers of the higher forms. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. iii i. 163 The Choice and Master Spirits of this Age. 1607 B. Jonson Volpone Ded., The great and Maister Spirits of our World. 1609 ― Sil. Wom. iii. ii, That falls out often, madam, that hee that thinkes himselfe the Master-wit, is the Master-foole. 1617 Janua Ling. To Prince, Whose but yours, that are a maister-prince. 1643 ‘F. Greville’ 5 Yrs. Jas. I 44 One Simon, master servant unto Sir Tho. [Monson]. 1701 Rowe Amb. Step-moth. iii. iii, See where the Master Villain stands! 1725 Pope Odyss. xxiv. 26 Yet still a master ghost, the rest he awed. 1759 Mason Caractacus 84 The master-mover in this business. 1837 Alison Hist. Europe (1849–50) VIII. xlix. §96. 101 The master-spirit had fled from the helm when Lord Wellesley embarked for England. 1849 Aytoun Execution Mrq. Montrose vii, The master-fiend Argyle! 1865 Kingsley Herew. xxv, One of those unfathomable master-personages.

    b. Prefixed to names of animals, to denote the leader of a herd, or one superior in fighting strength to the rest. (Cf. 1 b.)

1589 Fleming Virg. Bucol. ix. 27 Take heed to meet the maistergote. 1672 Temple Ess. Orig. Nat. Govt. Miscell. i. (1680) 56 This makes the Authority..of a Master-Buck in a numerous herd. 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables cccxxxiv. 292 A Master-Pike, that for his Bulk, Beauty, and Strength, was look'd upon to be the Prince of the River. 1725 Pope Odyss. ix. 523 The master Ram at last approach'd the gate. 1764 Museum Rust. III. xxxix. 175 A master hog deters a weaker from approaching. 1812 Sir J. Sinclair Syst. Husb. Scot. i. 21 The cattle must often be injured..by master cattle preventing the others from feeding. 1850 R. G. Cumming Hunter's Life S. Afr. (1902) 7/1 A princely master-stag. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. II. xxii. 222 Toodla, our master-dog, was seized with a violent fit. 1860 G. H. K. in Vac. Tour 174 The antlers of the master-hart.

    c. In titles of office or employment, to distinguish the official who has the command over the others similarly designated. Now chiefly Hist. (see also 30). Hence also in derivatives denoting the offices, as master forestership, master sergeantship, master ushery.

c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3412 Al bi ðhusenz ðis folc was told, Ilc ðhusent adde a meister wold. Ibid. 3886 Eleazar..Was mad bissop and meister prest. a 1300 Cursor M. 4434 Son was ioseph halden dere wit þe maister jailere. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. cxxv, The maister portare, callit pacience, That frely lete vs in. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 514/2 Som tyme þer was a kyng þat had a wardrop[er] þat was maister-shaper [cf. quot. 1658 in d] of his clothyng; and he had many servandis vnder-nethe hym. 1450 Rolls of Parlt. V. 192/1 Oure Maister Foster of the said Forest. 1455 Ibid. 312/2 The Maister Fostershipps of the Forestes of Macclesfeld, Mare and Moundreme. 1464 Ibid. 545/1 Th' Offices of Maister Carpenter of oure Castell of Lancastre. 1485 Ibid. VI. 369/1 The Office of Maister Sergeauntship of the Vale of Monmouth. 1508 Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 437 In Parise wyth the maister buriawe Abyde, and be his prentice. 1553–4 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 152 Ordanis my Lord Thesaurar to deliver furth the prenting irnis..to the Maister Cunyear. 1565 Ibid. 347 The offices of Chalmerlanerie and Maistir Ischearie. 1604 E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. x. 154 The report which the master Pilot that passed it made, seemeth notable vnto me. 1676 Lond. Gaz. No. 1127/4 Mr. Chiffinch Master Falconer to His Majesty. 1682 G. Rose (title) A perfect School of Instructions For the Officers of the Mouth: shewing The Whole Art of..a Master Carver, a Master Butler, a Master Confectioner, a Master Cook, a Master Pastryman. 1702 Lond. Gaz. No. 3822/4 Her Majesty has been pleased to constitute..William Bridges Esq.; Master Surveyor..of the Ordnance. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) Y y iij b, To observe that the master-shipwrights do in no ways depart from the draught. 1862 J. Grant Capt. Guard i, The king's master butcher.

    d. In designations of trade, to denote one who is a ‘master’ as distinguished from an apprentice or journeyman, or one who has others in his employ.

a 1300 Cursor M. 1666 Þi self sal be þe maister wright. 1444 Rolls of Parlt. V. 112/2 Ye wages of eny free Mason or maister Carpenter, excede not by the day iiiid. Ibid., A maister Tyler or Sclatter. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour A vj b, It cam from the handes of the mayster goldsmythe. 1496 Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 180, iiij Smythes..iij of theym takyng..xv{supd} by the weke... And the iiij{supt}{suph} as Maister Smyth viijs vj{supd}. 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal 81 The master-barber now Trimms thee. 1658 R. Franck North. Mem. (1821) 146 Here [Perth] they call a taylor master-fashioner forsooth. 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing ii. ¶1, I shall begin with the Office of a Master-Printer. 1707 Fleetwood Chron. Prec. (1745) 133 A Master Calker. 1739 C. Labelye Short Acc. Piers Westm. Br. Pref. 4, I consulted the respective Master-Artificers. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. v. ii. (1869) II. 461 The rise which such a tax might occasion in the wages of manufacturing labour would be advanced by the master manufacturer. 1800 M. Edgeworth Murad i, In these disturbances the master bakers frequently lose their lives. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 423 The master-glazier takes upon himself the risk of windows being broken. 1824 R. Humphreys Mem. J. Decastro 76 He calls for his scene-painter, composer, master-carpenter, property-man. 1834 1st Rep. Poor Law Comm. (1885) 199 Master barbers who might have saved enough money to keep them from the parish. 1837 Lockhart Scott lxiv, The master printer is entitled to an equal sum. 1863 Kingsley Water-Bab. i, He would be a man and a master-sweep. 1897 Daily News 8 Mar. 3/1 Mr. George Holder, master sinker, who had charge of the pit. 1933 Burlington Mag. Nov. 239/2 A master-clockmaker of the class of Thomas Tompion. 1936 Ibid. Aug. 54/1 At nineteen he was..a master-carpenter and a painter. 1964 W. L. Goodman Hist. Woodworking Tools ii. vii. 78 The wide-ranging migrations of the master-masons and master-carpenters of the Middle-Ages.

    e. With the sense ‘supremely or consummately skilled’. Also, in ME. occas. = ‘consummately wicked’, ‘accomplished’, as in † master gaveller.

1340 Ayenb. 35 Þise byeþ þe mayster gaueleres. c 1440 Jacob's Well 123 Ȝif þou be wel plesyd þerwyth, þou art mayster vsurere. c 1440 Alphabet of Tales 6 Þis Abbott said vnto þis maister thieff [etc.]. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Autolicus, a maister thiefe. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 515 That great architect and master deuiser, of Alexandria..Dinocrates. 1677 Gilpin Demonol. iii. ii. 11 We may rely upon the great Master-contriver, for relief..or deliverance; as there is need. 1736 Ainsworth Lat.-Eng. Dict., Athleta, a master-wrestler, a champion. 1751 J. Harris Hermes i. vii. (1765) 111 The character of a Master-Artist, or Man of practical Wisdom. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. lxxxvii, And last the master-bowman, he, Would cleave the mark. 1900 Westm. Gaz. 4 Jan. 1/3 The French consider the English the master-colonists of the world. 1930 English Jrnl. XIX. 628 The Minnesota Quarterly is at present running a series of tales about a master criminal. 1932 Wodehouse Louder & Funnier 72 The psychology of the Master Criminal is a thing I have never been able to understand. 1939 T. S. Eliot Old Possum's Pract. Cats 33 He's the master criminal who can defy the Law. 1968 D. M. Smith Mod. Sicily lv. 505 That notorious character Don Calogero Vizzini,..master criminal and boss of Villalba,..made a fortune out of wartime shortages. 1975 L. Deighton Yesterday's Spy vi. 54 Champion was some kind of master spy.

    f. Chess. Designating play or players of the highest class at national or international level. (Cf. 16 c.)

1894 J. Mason Princ. Chess 186 In the case of master players, a slight initial error..will permeate the remainder of the game. 1938 P. W. Sergeant Championship Chess 191 The Benoni Counter-Gambit had for years been out of favour in master-play. 1958 Listener 13 Nov. 803/1 It is really only in master chess..that knowledge of the latest variations and finesses becomes important. 1959 Ibid. 5 Nov. 794/1 You need not go as slow as the sixteen moves an hour customary in master practice.

    26. Applied transf. as a qualification of things, with the sense ‘main’, ‘principal’, ‘controlling’.
    In some of the combinations so formed, master is apprehended as a separate adj.; the majority, however, are always felt as compounds, while in many the grammatical character is uncertain or fluctuating.
    a. Of material things (after the similar use of F. maître; esp. frequent in terms relating to building, machinery, and popular anatomy), as master-altar, master bathroom, master-beam, master bedroom, † master-bone, † master-borough, master-bough, master branch, master-chord, † master city, master current, master dish, master-drain, master-feeder, master fortress, master furrow, master-gate, † master gonfanon, master-line, master list, master lode, master-metal, master-moulding, master pattern (also fig.), master pillar, † master-pock, master river, master sail, master-screw, master-shoot, master star, master stem, master street, master-string, master switch, master tape, master temple, master-tissue, master tooth, master tower, † master town, † master-turnip, master wave, master way, master-wheel, master wire.

1833 L. Ritchie Wand. by Loire 116 The *master-altar.

1959 Sunday Times 3 May 19/4 The kitchen and *master bathroom.

1632 Sherwood, A summer (or great *master-beame in building), sommier. 1638 Drummond of Hawthornden Irene Wks. (1711) 170 The props, stays, master-beams of religion, being faith, hope, and charity.

1926 New Republic 7 Apr. p. iii (Advt.), Large living-room and dining-room opening on court, four *master bedrooms. 1937 M. Hillis Orchids on your Budget ii. 35 Crisp white argentine curtains in the master bedroom. 1945 Nelson & Wright Tomorrow's House ii. 12/2 The discussion continued in the privacy of the master bedroom. 1972 Country Life 5 Oct. (Suppl.) 32d/2 Master bedroom suite with dressing room, bath and shower rooms.

1677 W. Vincent in Harl. Misc. (1809) II. 328 One hand being rotted from the wrist, that you may not only see through the *master-bones, but also [etc.]. 1800 C. Winter in W. Jay Mem. J.'s Wks. 1843 V. 157 The master-bone of my leg was broken.

c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 3881 Long weiȝe and costful he ðor fond, forð bi archim ðat *meister burȝ.

1615 W. Lawson Country Housew. Gard. (1626) 35 Let him spread as far as he list without any *master-bough.

1642 Rogers Naaman To Rdr. §1 Yet they [sc. trees] haue some *Master and chiefe ones [sc. branches], into which the maine sap..is carried. 1667 Waterhouse Fire Lond. 131 A main Pillar and Master-branch in Englands Grandeur.

1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, iii. ii. 106, I would 'twer somthing y{supt} would fret the string, The *Master-cord on's heart. 1842 Tennyson Will Waterproof 27 The master-chord Of all I felt and feel.

1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 47 Thair *maister citee was als mekle as Rome.

1817 Coleridge Biog. Lit. 120 It is connected with *master-currents below the surface.

1960 Auden Homage to Clio 26 Doomed to observe Beauty peck at a *master-dish.

1652 W. Blithe Eng. Improv. Impr. ix. (ed. 3) 56 Thither draw a good substantial *Master-drain through all thy Lands. 1796 Trans. Soc. Arts XIV. 184 In carrying up the valley the master drains.

1789 T. Wright Meth. Watering Meadows (1790) 19 The bottom of the first work, or *master-feeder, ought to be as deep as the bottom of the river.

c 1450 Merlin vii. 110 Than Bretell com to the *maister forteresse where as the kynge was.

1649 W. Blithe Eng. Improv. xviii. 109 A good Drayne or *Master-Furrow. 1808 J. Walker Econ. Hist. Hebrides & Highl. Scot. I. 168 The master-furrow at the head of the field..should be led in a very gentle slope.

c 1450 Merlin xxiii. 422 He com to the *maister gate of the paleys. 1715 Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) I. 47 The chief Entry, or Master-gate.

c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 5634 Her *maister gomfainoun so bar Þe kinges steward, Cleodalis.

1833 Straith Fortif. 3 The measurements..are calculated..from the cordon, which..is called the magistral or *master line.

1962 Y. Malkiel in Householder & Saporta Probl. Lexicogr. 9 Fragmentary *master-lists of the items. 1967 N.Y. Times (Internat. ed.) 11–12 Feb. 9/6 Master list of investment and speculative stocks—key lists for both the conservative and more speculative investor.

1671 Phil. Trans. VI. 2100 The ancient Tinners..affirm, that 7 Loads may lie parallel to each other in the same Hill, but yet one only *Master-Load.

1813 T. Busby tr. Lucretius vi. Comm. xxiii, On account of its exerting its influence upon iron (the *master-metal),..the tragedian termed it the Herculean stone.

1723 Chambers tr. Le Clerc's Archit. I. 75 The Corona..is the first *Master-Moulding in the Corniche.

1948 H. Hall Home Dress-Making Simplified xxxiii. 311 The safe plan, when remodeling, is to fit a *master pattern in muslin... This pattern is then used as a guide for fitting the section when cutting. 1960 R. Lister Decorative Cast Ironwork 230 Master pattern, a pattern from which a production work is cast. 1962 W. Nowottny Lang. Poets Use vi. 138 It is Eliot's peculiar insight..to have..expressed the longing for the master-pattern that will free us from the fret of a world in which there are too many equipollent patterns.

a 1450 Knt. de la Tour 93 The *maister pillour of the halle, bi the whiche alle the halle was susteined.

1601 Dent Pathw. Heaven (1831) 29 It is a master-devil, and the *master-pock of the soul. 1654 Trapp Comm. Job xxxiii. 17 Which else, as a Master-pock, will break out in his forehead.

1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 141/2 A certeine great beame or *master post was loosed out of the place.

1677 A. Yarranton Eng. Improv. 64 The Thames and Severne are the two great *Master Rivers.

1555 Eden Decades 195 They sayle with twoo sayles as with the *master sayle and the trinkette.

1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXIII. 809/2 The screw is an important productive measuring instrument, whether used as a micrometer-screw of less than an inch in length, or as a *master-screw of 20 feet in length.

1712 J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 173 Bringing the two Sides as near as possible to the *Master-Shoot.

a 1300 Cursor M. 527 Seuen *maister sterns er sette in heuen. 1904 W. de la Mare Henry Brocken vi. 62 The master-stars shone earlier here.

1601 Holland Pliny II. 23 If their leaves bee cropt off before the *maister stem or spire be growne big.

c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 2044 The nobleste of the grekes..caryeden the beere..Thurgh out the Citee by the *maister strete.

1713 Rowe Jane Shore iii. i. 34 He touch'd me Ev'n on the tend'rest Point; the *Master-string That makes most Harmony or Discord to me.

1907 A. Hay Introd. Course Continuous Current Engin. xvi. 284 A small switch which is arranged to control simultaneously a number of larger switches is spoken of as a *master switch. 1943 Gloss. Terms Electr. Engin. (B.S.I.) 52 Master switch or circuit-breaker, a switch or circuit-breaker to which the operation or function of one or more other switches is subservient. 1975 P. Organ House on Cheyne Walk i. 1 The night is going. Soon someone somewhere will throw a master switch..and the lights will go out..all over London.

1954 *Master tape [see file n.2 4 b]. 1962 Times 5 July 15/6 In a disc-cutting room at Decca's London studios, a master tape of a recent recording of music by Prokofiev and an ordinary commercial pressing of a disc made from it were started simultaneously. 1967 Lebende Sprachen XII. 137/2 Master tape, original recording by informant of a language laboratory drill. 1973 Daily Tel. (Colour Suppl.) 12 Oct. 29/2 The signals..from the master tape are then fed into the recording head that drives the cutting stylus.

c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1016 Dido, The *maystir temple of al the toun.

1896 Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 161 Certain *master tissues..possess..a special function.

1601 Holland Pliny II. 341 The great *master teeth and grinders of a wolfe.

c 1386 Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 218 (Hengwrt MS.) The Mirour, That born was vp vn to the *maister tour.

13.. S. Erkenwolde 26 in Horstm. Altengl. Leg. (1881) 266 Londone..þe metropol & þe *mayster-tone. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1591 Hipsiph., Iaconitos, That was the mayster toun of al Colcos.

1733 Tull Horse-Hoeing Husb. x. 100 We contrive to leave the *Master-Turneps..and spare such when near one another.

1840 Marryat Poor Jack xlii, A *master wave, as it is termed, from being of larger dimensions than its predecessors.

1726 Leoni Alberti's Archit. I. 80/1 The Houses of Princes..shou'd have an entrance from the *Master Way.

1640 Bp. Reynolds Passions x, The *Master-wheel or first mover in all the regular motions of this passion [Love] is the Love of God.

1761 Churchill Night Poems 1769 I. 89 Let but the puppets move, I've my desire, Unseen the hand which guides the *Master-wire.

    b. Of immaterial things, as master-appetite, master-argument, master-bias, master-cause, master conscience, master-coup, master-dream, master-duty, master-error, master exercise, master fact, master-feeling, master-form, master-fulcrum, master-genius, master-idea, master jest, master light, master-lust, master-miracle, master-mischief, master motive, master-passion, master plan, master-power, master principle, master-proof, master reason, master-sin, master-spell, master-stratagem, master-tone, master-vice, master-virtue, master-voice, master-word.

1742 Young Nt. Th. vii. 863 Great Nature's *Master-appetite destroy'd.

1678 Bunyan Jerus. Sinner Saved Wks. (1845) 73 This is Satan's *master-argument.

1807 Wordsw. Happy Warrior 59 A Soul whose *master-bias leans To homefelt pleasures.

1677 A. Horneck Gt. Law Consid. v. (1704) 240 The *master-cause [of misery] is the want of consideration.

1649 Milton Eikon. ii. 21 We may consider..what..feeling could be in that conscience, and what fitness to be the *maister conscience of three Kingdomes.

1939 R. Campbell Flowering Rifle vi. 148 The cynic *master-coup of propaganda.

1928 Blunden Jap. Garland 21 Sleep's *master-dream there stands alone: The tower of East and West!

1624 Sanderson Serm. I. 82 Here then the magistrate..may learn..his *master-duty.

1674 Allen Danger Enthusiasm 96, I deem it a Mother and a *Master-Error.

1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. i. 268 Hard at hand comes the *Master, and maine exercise.

1831 Brewster Newton (1855) I. ix. 202 It is to Dr. Thomas Young..that we owe the *master fact.

1806 T. S. Surr Winter in Lond. II. 28 This *master feeling of his soul.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iii. xvii. 147 Other degenerations which come up in unexpected shapes, when they want the support..of the primary and *master-formes.

1957 T. Hughes Hawk in Rain 11 And I..strain towards the *master-Fulcrum of violence where the hawk hangs still.

a 1711 Ken Hymnotheo Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 293 Had Athens..To our great Homer's *Master-genius bow'd..They [etc.].

1809–10 Coleridge Friend (1865) 69 The three *master ideas, announced in the foregoing pages.

1678 Butler Hud. iii. ii. 955 And who shall break the *master-jest, And what, and how, upon the rest.

1806 Wordsw. Ode Intim. Immort. 153 Those shadowy recollections Which.. Are yet a *master light of all our seeing.

1784 Cowper Task v. 618 His *master-lust Falls first before his resolute rebuke.

1647 Trapp Comm. 1 Cor. xiii. 2 Removing of mountains is instanced, because noted by our Saviour as a *master-miracle.

a 1709 Illidge in M. Henry Life (1710) 65 Atheism..is the *Master-mischief of this Age.

1860 Mill Repr. Govt. (1865) 51/1 The guiding and *master motives in the conduct of average human beings.

1732 Pope Ess. Man ii. 131 One *master Passion in the breast, Like Aaron's serpent, swallows up the rest.

1935 *Master plan [see freeway]. 1939 H. M. Lewis City Planning xii. 128 A master plan..may be defined as a general plan for the future layout of the city. 1957 L. F. R. Williams State of Israel 77 The bulk of the population is being systematically spread out in accordance with a master plan drawn up by the Government. 1960 Washington Post 16 Nov. A. 16 The Friends, who have retained consultants to study the Zoo's problems and form a master plan, found that the institution has almost never received adequate funds. 1971 B. de Ferranti Living with Computer ix. 82 He therefore..gives them names so that they can be filed and described on the master plan.

1821 Hazlitt Table-Talk I. v. 96 His mind grappled with that which afforded the best exercise to its *master-powers.

1794 Mathias Purs. Lit. (1798) 118 A vindication of the great, original, *master principles on which they were founded.

1610 Bp. Hall Apol. Brownists v. 14, I finde these as your *Master-proofes, set as Challengers in every of your defences.

1608 Shakes. Per. iv. vi. 8 Her quirks, her reasons, her *master reasons.

1607 Hieron Wks. I. 227 Those *master-sinnes, ignorance, contempt of the word and godlinesse.

1816 Byron Ch. Har. iii. cvii, The lord of irony,—that *master-spell, Which stung his foes to wrath.

1647 Trapp Comm. 2 Thess. ii. 7 Themselves will even smile in the triumphs of their own wits..as at a *master-stratagem.

1827–35 Willis Leper 124 The voice was like the *master-tone Of a rich instrument.

1848 Dickens Dombey xlvii, Mr. Dombey's *master-vice, that ruled him so inexorably.

1833 Chalmers Const. Man (1835) II. x. 101 The great *master and generic virtue.

1910 W. de la Mare Three Mulla-Mulgars xiii. 174 Of its calm authority the *master-voice said, ‘So shall it be.’

1709 Steele Tatler No. 17 ¶2 He is a Poet, and Merchant, which is seen in Two *Master-Words, Credit Blossoms.

    27. Attributive, with the sense: Pertaining to, proceeding from, or characteristic of a master (in various senses), in master faculty, master fascination, † master reach, master throw, master touch, master will. Also master hand (see 30), masterpiece, master-stroke.
    Most or all of the combinations under this head admit of being used or interpreted with the notion expressed by those under 26 b; the two meanings often blend, as both are usually applicable to the same objects.

1622 Bacon Hen. VII 242 Neither did hee care how Cunning they were, that hee did imploy, For hee thought himselfe to haue the Master-Reach. a 1674 Clarendon Surv. Leviath. (1676) 21 Discovers a master faculty in making easie. 1686 Ravenscroft Titus A. To Rdr., He only gave some Master-touches to one or two. 1710 Addison Tatler No. 156 ¶10, I have here only mentioned some Master-Touches of this admirable Piece. 1821 Southey in Q. Rev. XXV. 310 This rare dissembler..played his master-game at once. 1825 Hogg Q. Hynde 324 No clamour rose,..From such a monarch's master-throw. 1838 Lytton Alice vii. vi, The master-fascination that he could command. a 1872 J. D. Aylward in Ess. Relig. & Lit. Ser. iii. (1874) III. 90 Subject themselves..to the master-will of him whom they constitute the lord of their life. 1880 Blackw. Mag. Feb. 187 The master-touch interpreting all lights.

    28. Objective, as master-killer, master-leaver; instrumental, as master-mortified adj.

1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. ix. 22 But let the world ranke me in Register A Master leauer, and a fugitiue. 1608 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. iv. Decay 180 Art thou there Zimri, cursed Parricide? Fell master-killer, canst thou chuse but fear For like offence, like punishment severe? 1741 Richardson Pamela I. xv, The poor, low, creeping, abject, self-mortified and master-mortified Mrs. Jewkes.

    † 29. In contracted forms of certain syntactical combinations used as titles of office, as master-household = master of the household (see 19 a); master-voyage, ? the commander of a fishing fleet. Obs.

1761 Ann. Reg. 188 Every boat-master, splitter, and master voyage, who are the chief people among the fisherman [French, Newfoundland] and shoremen, being the catchers and curers of fish.

    30. Special comb.: master attendant, ‘an officer in the royal dockyards appointed to assist in the fitting or dismantling, removing or securing vessels of war, &c.’ (Smyth); master-batch, a concentrated mixture employed in the production of synthetic rubbers and plastics; hence as v. trans., to mix in a master-batch; masterbatching vbl. n.; † master-bee, (a) a queen bee (cf. king n. 8 a); (b) ? a worker bee; † master-bowl (see sense 9); master-brain, = master-mind n. b.; master card, (a) Bridge (see quots.); (b) a record card which summarizes the information recorded on a number of other cards; master class, (a) the most powerful or influential class in society; (b) a class receiving instruction from a ‘master’ (a person of distinguished skill), esp. in Music; master clock, a clock which transmits regular pulses of electricity for controlling impulse dials or computer operations; master-craftsman, a craftsman thoroughly conversant with his trade; one who employs workmen; also transf.; hence master-craftsmanship; master fault Geol., a fault which governs the configuration of the surrounding area; † master gunner (see gunner 1 c); hence † master gunnership, the office of a master gunner; master hand, (a) the hand of a master, the agency of one highly skilled or one possessing commanding power; (b) a highly skilled worker; master-hunt [see hunt n.¹], a head huntsman; master joint Geol., a principal joint in a rock mass; master mariner, the commander of a ship (for mod. use see mariner 1 b); † master note Mus., a semibreve (see quot.); master number = matrix number (matrix 7); master oscillator, an oscillator used to produce a constant frequency, esp. the carrier frequency of a radio or television transmitter; master race, a race of people considered to be pre-eminent in greatness or power; spec. the Germans or ‘Aryans’ (see Aryan n. 2) regarded as a superior people (cf. Herrenvolk) during the Nazi period; master rod, in a rotary or radial engine, a rod which connects one of the pistons to the crankshaft and carries the wrist pins to which the link rods are connected; master-scene, shot Cinematography (see quots.); † master shipman = master-mariner; master sinew, a main sinew; esp. the tendon in the hock of a quadruped, corresponding to the tendon of Achilles in man; master-slave manipulator, a type of manipulator (sense 2 f) which reproduces at the handling end the positions and motions of the operator's fingers; † master water, a liquid having powerful chemical effects; (rattlesnake) master weed U.S., a plant regarded as an antidote to rattlesnake bites (cf. rattlesnake-master); † master woman, an imperious or masculine woman; master-worker = master-workman; also spec. in the Mint (see quot. 1670); master workman, a workman thoroughly conversant with his trade; one who employs workmen; also fig.; master-yaw, = mamma-pian (see mamma¹ e). See also master-builder, -craft, -fast, etc.

1669 Pepys Diary 25 Mar., I did..rattle the *Master-Attendants out of their wits almost. 1858 W. M. Gilson in Merc. Marine Mag. V. 211, I don't think there is any Master-Attendant at Trincomalee dockyard.

1937 H. Barron Mod. Rubber Chem. vii. 79 Certain fundamental ingredients such as accelerators, antioxidants and sulphur are always added in small quantities... It is now common practice to add them as a ‘*masterbatch’. 1953 N. L. Catton Neoprenes 32 A convenient method of making sure that mixing operations are carried out in the elastic phase is through the use of concentrated master⁓batches. 1959 Times 13 Mar. 10/2 The Cariflex range consists of hot and cold polymers, oil masterbatches, carbon black masterbatches and hot and cold latices. 1964 Amer. Speech XXXIX. 272 Most stocks..in a tire are mixed in two stages. The masterbatch is the first stage, in which all the rubbers and pigments are mixed except for the curing agents.

1953 Industr. & Engin. Chem. May 1059/2 Copolymers of butadiene and styrene..have been extended with various rosin-type acids in a manner similar to that employed in extending with petroleum oils (latex *masterbatching). 1971 Crowther & Edmondson in C. M. Blow Rubber Technol. & Manuf. viii. 269 It is generally accepted that masterbatching improves the physical properties of those compounds where a high degree of carbon black dispersion must be achieved. Ibid. 270 The curing ingredients themselves may be masterbatched.

1579–80 North Plutarch, Lycurgus (1595) 61 They..were alwaies..together, as the bees be about their *maister bee. 1645 Waller Palam. to Zelinde 8 No Honey..But what the Master Bees have plac't In compass of their Cells. 1658 Rowland tr. Moufet's Theat. Ins. 898 Their King or Master-Bee.

1923 E. Wallace Missing Million xiv. 112 The *master-brain who took his pick of the cleverest criminals at large.

1905 R. F. Foster Compl. Bridge 316 *Master card, the best left in play of any suit which has already been led. 1937 Times 13 Apr. p. iv/3 A..tabulator, which..can collate, record and analyse 900 production facts a minute, as well as produce master cards summarizing the figures it tabulates. 1961 T. Landau Encycl. Librarianship (ed. 2) 236/2 Master card, a main entry in a card catalogue bearing tracings indicating all the added entries, [etc.]. 1964 Cohen & Barrow A.B.C. of Contract Bridge 282 Master card, a card that can be beaten only if it is trumped. 1970 O. Dopping Computers & Data Processing iv. 72 If the machine has only one card feed, data are transferred from a master card to the following cards which are often called detail cards.

1861 Mill Repr. Govt. ii. 38 Slavery is..corrupting to the *master-class when they once come under civilized influences. c 1926 ‘Mixer’ Transport Workers' Song Bk. 47 Note the constant drop in wages..Endorsed by every rag-time press That the master-class command. 1930 J. Dos Passos 42nd Parallel i. 104 Big Bill talked about..sticking together in the face of the masterclass. 1963 Ann. Reg. 1962 446 Pablo Casals conducting a master class. 1965 Listener 10 June 873/2 Master-class exercises in comparative semantics and applied imagery. 1970 Times 26 Feb. 16/1 Old singers don't forget—they teach. And the best of them conduct master classes. 1973 Times 17 Apr. 32/4 Crash course on British Portraiture... Contact: Master Classes. 1973 Ms. Nov. 46/3 Ms. Rosenberger has worked out a variety of exercises like the one she suggested to the tense master-class student.

1904 *Master clock [see journeyman 3 b]. 1922 G. L. Overton Clocks & Watches x. 108 If the master clock should have gained or lost at all, the arrangements provided for putting it right again are such that all the connected dials are at the same time automatically set to the right time. 1951 Master clock [see impulse clock s.v. impulse n. 6 b]. 1967 H. Jacobowitz Electronic Computers made Simple xiii. 261 Unless the computer is asynchronous.., all its operations are controlled by a series of equally spaced timing pulses from a master clock oscillator.

1937 G. B. Brown Arts in Early Eng. VI. ii. xi. 215 We are in almost complete ignorance as to the personalities of the *master craftsmen who created the schemes of enrichment. 1952 C. Day Lewis tr. Virgil's Aeneid ii. 36 That master-craftsman of crime, Ulysses. Ibid. viii. 177 Now there is need for Your strength, your speediest work and your master-craftsmanship.

1837 Phillips Geology 63 The faults..generally cross the anti⁓clinal axis, and terminate in a remarkable *master fault or axis of elevation.

1565 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 396 The said office of *maistir gunnarschip. 1625 in Crt. & Times Jas. I (1849) II. 502 Mr. Gibson..who had in reversion the master-gunnership of England.

1709 Pope Ess. Crit. 145 Nameless graces..which a *master-hand alone can reach. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) II. x, The master-hand of Tacitus. 1854 Milman Lat. Chr. iv. ii. (1883) II. 202 It might seem that, the master-hand withdrawn, all would return to the former anarchy. 1879 Howells L. Aroostook II. xxvii, He's a master-hand to converse, any way.

c 1369 Chaucer Dethe Blaunche 375 (Fairf. MS.) The *mayster hunte anoon fote hote With a grete horne blewe thre mote. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. 196 Zenofon, Apollos Master-hunt.

1839 Murchison Silur. Syst. i. xx. 244 The surprising regularity of the direction of the *master joints. 1879 Encycl. Brit. X. 297/2 Granite..is traversed by two sets of chief or ‘master-joints’.

13.. Coer de L. 1831 On the morwe he of-sent his counsellors Of the pates the *master mariners. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 12089 Þe mayster mariner was byhynde, Þe schip to stere by þe wynde. 1838, 1886 [see mariner 1 b].

1662 Playford Skill Mus. i. vii. 23 The Semibrief..is called the *Master Note, being of one Measure by himself; all the other Notes are reckoned by his value, by Augmentation or Diminution.

1969 John Edwards Mem. Foundation Q. V. iv. 146 Such documents are of great importance to the discographer who is trying to assemble the usual discographic data of *master number, recording date..and release number. 1973 in B. Holiday Lady sings Blues 208 In the era of 78 rpm records most companies assigned a number to each recording they made for the sake of handy reference, called the ‘master’ number.

1928 Sterling & Kruse Radio Manual viii. 305 The tuning of this type of circuit consists fundamentally of setting the *master oscillator at the desired wavelength and then resonating the antenna circuit for maximum antenna current. 1951 W. E. Pannett Radio Installations vii. 177 The quartz crystal..has largely superseded valve circuits as a master oscillator for controlling the frequency of a transmitter. 1971 M. G. Scroggie Found. Wireless & Electronics xv. 244 The function of what is usually called the master oscillator is to define the frequency of the station at least as accurately and constantly as the now very narrow international regulations require.

1942 J. S. Huxley in South Atlantic Q. XLI. 354 The [German] nation is formidably united behind its own ideal of an ‘Aryan’ *Master-Race. 1945 D. Thomson et al. Patterns of Peacemaking iii. 118 Her expansionism has been due to a triple convergence of forces: the economic greed and lust for power of her ruling classes, the primitive and tribal nationalist and imperialist sentiments of her people, and hatred of the foreigner which takes the form of theories of Japanese being a ‘master-race’. 1949 D. Macardle Children of Europe xiv. 212 Boys and girls who had been impregnated with the teaching of Nazi schools..shared the overwhelming pride of the ‘Master Race’. 1953 P. Abrahams Return to Goli vi. 215 Imperceptibly, a ‘master race’ mentality is in the making [in Kenya]. 1974 Times 21 Oct. 3/4 To suggest that I [sc. Sir Keith Joseph] was arguing for a ‘master race’..is..very wrong.

1922 Encycl. Brit. XXX. 36/2 Connecting-rods of rotary and radial engines consist usually of one *master rod, ball or roller-bearinged, with the big-end enlarged to form circular lugs to secure wrist pins carrying the plain or auxiliary type of rod of the remaining cylinders. 1928 Master rod [see link rod s.v. link n.2 7]. 1946 J. W. Vale Aviation Mechanic's Engine Manual iii. 87 Constructing the crank⁓shaft in sections permits use of the one-piece master rod.

1960 O. Skilbeck ABC of Film & T.V. 83 *Master scene, usually an establishing shot; the basic scene from which a sequence is edited by intercutting or adding closer shots. A master scene script is an optional stage in writing..in which only the above appear. 1960 D. Wilson Television Playwright 16 The plays in this book are printed in ‘Rehearsal Script’ form, that is to say, the manuscript as the author wrote it. In the Cinema this would be called a ‘Master-scene Script’.

1390 Gower Conf. III. 311 The *Maister schipman cam and preide With othre suche as be therinne. c 1450 Lovelich Grail xxxvi 499 Thanne A Maister Schipman gan forth to gon.

1953 K. Reisz Technique Film Editing 280 *Master shot, single shot of an entire piece of dramatic action taken in order to facilitate the assembly of the component closer shots of details from which the sequence will finally be covered. 1959 P. Bull I know Face v. 94 We started..with a ‘master-shot’, which means that the actors go through the entire scene from rather far off and only portions of the shot are likely to be used in the final film. 1972 R. Manvell Internat. Encycl. Film 356 Master shot, the main shot of a complete piece of dramatic action, which facilitates the assembly of the component shots of which it will finally be composed.

a 1300 Cursor M. 3941 Iacob was þan hurt wel sare, Þe *maister sinu of his the. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts 402 A painefull swelling of the maister sinnew.

1952, etc. *Master-slave manipulator [see manipulator 2 f]. 1960 Times 24 May 20/4 Closed-circuit stereoscopic television combined with a light-duty master-slave manipulator..enables an operator to see the articles which he is moving in a solid radiation-proof container.

1644 Nye Gunnery i. (1647) 13 Take the Saltpeter out, and preserve the water that dropped, because it is *Master water.

1843 Marryat M. Violet xxiii, I beheld five or six stems of the rattlesnake *master weed. Ibid. xxiv, I removed..the poultice of master weed.

1534 More Comf. agst. Trib. iii. Wks. 1224/1 She is in dede a stoute *master woman.

1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) v. xiv. 108 Yf thou wylt bylde an hows, and arte a *maister werker, couthest thou bilde withouten mater. 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 281 The Master worker..doth put into the melting pot, two penny weight of Copper in euerie pound. 1670 Pettus Fodinæ Reg. 41 The Master-worker, who receiveth the Silver from the Warden, causeth it to be melted, and delivereth it to the Moniers, and taketh it from them again when it is made.

1598 Barret Theor. Warres v. iii. 134 A *maister workeman to ioyne them [boats] together. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 217 The great Maister workman therefore of set purpose, made the one halfe of mankinde imperfect. 1670 Eachard Cont. Clergy 118 An ordinary bricklayer, or carpenter (I mean not your great undertakers and master-workmen)..has certainly the command of more money. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Napoleon Wks. (Bohn) I. 368 He is..a very consistent and wise master-workman.

1774 Med. Ess. V. ii. 793 Sometimes after..the Salivation is over, there remains one large Yaw, high knobbed, red and moist; this is commonly called the *Master yaw.

    VI. 31. As a suffix forming compounds (mostly proprietary names) designating articles, appliances, etc., that are held to be supreme or superior in the field denoted by their first elements.

1935 Vogue 1 Dec. 110 Rainbow Matchmaster. 1937 Amer. Speech XII. 265 Then there are the Buffet-Master, a ‘combination grill and waffle iron’, Menu-master, Kook⁓master, and Grill Master, all electric grills. 1947 J. Bertram Shadow of War 334, I glanced across the lighted interior of the big Skymaster. 1955 M. McCarthy Charmed Life (1956) ii. 52 The combination waffle iron and sandwich grill, the roto-broiler, the mixmaster. 1960 Times Lit. Suppl. 1 July 414/2 The shops were filled with goods and buyers..in the houses washers, dryers..Mixmasters. 1972 M. Crichton Terminal Man i. v. 41 Robert Morris was sitting in the hospital cafeteria..when his pagemaster went off... He..went to the wall phone to answer his page.

    
    

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     Add: [I.] [3.] a. Also in conjunctive phrases, as master–servant relationship.

1963 Auden Dyer's Hand 111 The master-servant relationship..is contractual. 1989 Independent 25 Nov. 49/6 Mr Freeman finds the Miss Daisy story a perfect microcosm of Southern mystique, which had blacks and whites glued together in a master-servant relationship.

    [8.] b. Bridge. [Abbrev. of master card, sense 30 below.] The highest card still unplayed in any suit.

1962 Listener 15 Nov. 836/1 After three rounds of trumps had left North with the master, he led a diamond. 1992 D. Roth Why Women win at Bridge x. 60 Any diamond allows South to complete the drawing of trumps on dummy after which she can enjoy the master spade.

    [II.] [14.] b. So master's degree, a degree of this type. In U.S. (and later elsewhere) freq. ellipt. as master's (also without apostrophe).

1774 J. Woodforde Diary 14 Jan. (1924) I. 122 Cooke Jun{supr} went also to the Convocation House to take his Master's degree. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Universities in Wks. (Bohn) II. 91 Seven years' residence is the theoretic period for a master's degree. 1960 B. Berelson Graduate Educ. in U.S. 4, I concentrate somewhat more on the arts and sciences than on the professional field and much more on the doctorate than the Master's. 1975 W. Allen Without Feathers (1976) 33 She's a madam, with a master's in comparative lit. 1988 Independent 31 Aug. 19, I got..a masters in..screen writing.

    [16.] d. Golf. Masters(') Tournament, an international golf tournament for invited competitors, held annually since 1934 at Augusta, Georgia. Freq. ellipt. as the (U.S.) Masters. Now also transf. in the name of some other sporting tournaments.

1933 Augusta (Georgia) Chron. 17 Oct. 9/8 Mr. Whitman believes that the Masters Golf tournament to be played here will attract visitors from all sections of the United States. 1948 H. Cotton This Game of Golf v. 220/2, I had only played on one occasion with him until my visit to his club at Augusta for the Master's [sic] in 1948. 1957 Encycl. Brit. X. 502/2 Television enhanced the popularity of golf, such tournaments as the Open, Masters,..and several others being given network coverage on the final day. 1980 Ann. Reg. 1979 458 Sam Snead, who first won the US Masters thirty years ago. 1986 Bowls Internat. July 56/2 Scotland, Ireland and Wales have all competed in past Masters without actually winning it.

    e. pl. In Swimming, and subsequently in other sports, a class for competitors over the usual age for open competition. Chiefly attrib.

1972 N.Y. Times 9 Apr. 96/4 The first Masters Swimming Meet in New Jersey, for competitive swimmers over 25 years old—some of them well over 25—is being held this week-end. 1974 Sunday Times 18 Aug. 25/5 ‘Masters’ athletics..known less graciously [in Britain] as Veteran athletics, is for the more mature athletes. You have to be at least 40-years-old to compete. 1986 Runner Mar. 12/1 I'd like to get back into my old sport, with the hope of becoming a serious masters runner in a few years. 1986 Swimming Times Sept. 44/1, I anticipated bringing over a plane load of Masters swimmers. 1989 Times 9 Sept. 10/1 One of the obscure but intriguing races in athletics is for the first ‘masters’ runner to do a four-minute mile. Masters runners are 40 and over.

    [V.] [26.] [a.] master copy (cf. sense 10 c above).

1960 L. C. Nanassy & W. Selden Business Dict. 128 *Master copy, the original stencil..from which quantities of copies are made. 1989 Adbusters Q. Winter 18/1 The Media Foundation will provide one-inch video master copies of all the commercials.

    master suite.

1966 R. Standish Widow Hack vi. 71 There is a lovely curved staircase leading from the hall to the two *master suites. 1992 Better Homes & Gardens Building Ideas Spring 27/2 The 1,000-square-foot master suite ‘is like a cocoon’, a remote and cozy apartment.

    [30.] master disc, a disc from which copies of a recording, text, etc., are made or copies of a program are read; spec. = sense 10 b.

1951 M. McLuhan Let. 18 June (1987) 225 The *master discs were sent to Lib. of Congress from Harvard. 1980 M. Ross-Trevor in Gammond & Horricks Music goes Round & Round vi. 117 The relationship between producer and engineer is a close one..right up until the final master-disc is cut. 1992 CU Amiga May 124/1 Next comes the installation program, a lengthy process which involves copying and unpacking the Easy AMOS files from the two master disks and dumping them on to three blank floppies.

▪ II. master, n.²
    (ˈmɑːstə(r), -æ-)
    [f. mast n.¹ + -er¹ 1.]
    A vessel having (a specified number of) masts, as in three-master, seven-master, etc.

1880 in Webster Suppl. 1887 [see five C. 1 c]. 1901 Daily Chron. 26 July 5/2 The keel of a gigantic seven-master has been laid.

▪ III. master, v.
    (ˈmɑːstə(r))
    Forms: see master n.¹
    [f. master n.¹ Cf. OF. maistrier (perh. the source in early instances), med.L. magistrāre, OHG. meist(e)rôn (G. meistern), Du. meesteren, Sw. mestra, Da. mestre.]
    1. trans. To get the better of, in any contest or struggle; to overcome or defeat. With material or immaterial subject or object.

a 1225 Leg. Kath. 548 Ha wið hire anes mot meistreð us alle. a 1300 Cursor M. 25365 Quen þai faanding maister wele, Crund er þai wit mikel sele. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 7909 Y dredde hyt [synne] wlde ha maystrede me. 1375 Barbour Bruce vii. 211 The sleip masterit hym. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 2683 He maisterede þat mane, so myghtty of strenghes. 1530 Palsgr. 633/2 Be he never so stronge I put no doutes to mayster hym. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 83 b, [Some dogges] haue Maystred and bene good inough for the Lyon and Elephant. 1576 Baker Jewell of Health 131 b, The sayd water drunck maystreth and expelleth poysons. 1591 Spenser Ruines of Rome xviii, These brave Pallaces, which maystred bee Of time. a 1623 Fletcher Love's Cure v. iii. (1647), Kings nor authority can master fate. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §21 The King.. was very quicksighted in..raising objections, and very slow in mastering them. 1664 Power Exp. Philos. ii. 109 The smaller weight of Quicksilver is not able to master the Elastick pressure of the external Ayr. 1703 Maundrell Journ. Jerus. (1732) 112 Here we had a very steep and rocky ascent; but however in half an hour we master'd it. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 33 The chief conspirators would be on shore..and..then I thought I could master the rest on board well enough. 1798 Beresford in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1862) III. 414 Lord Edward was mastered, brought to the Castle, and committed to Newgate. 1838 Thirlwall Greece V. xliii. 253 He resorted to new..methods of mastering his personal disadvantages. 1841 James Brigand xx, Deep grief masters me. 1887 Rider Haggard Jess vi, A crash that almost mastered the awful crackling of the thunder.

    2. To reduce to subjection, compel to obey; to break, tame (an animal).

1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. clxxxi, The quhich[ë] treuly efter, day be day, That all my wittes maistrit had tofore, From hen[ne]sferth the paynis did away. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccccxxvi. 748 The gates myght stand open..for all maner of men of warre to entre..to thentent to mayster them of Parys. 1580 in Liturg. Serv. Q. Eliz. (1847) 573 Masters, unable to master their own affections, are become servants to other folks' servants. 1586 J. Hooker Hist. Irel. in Holinshed II. 133/2 They..swore to be..obedient: which, so long as he maistered and kept them vnder, so long they performed it. a 1628 Preston Breastpl. Love (1631) 210 Doe not you reckon it a worke to breake horses, to master coltes? 1639 Fuller Holy War ii. xxxiii. (1640) 87 Yet was he not mastered by his purse, but made it his vassal. 1725 Watts Logic iii. iii. §2 Every wise man masters his passions; no angry man masters his passions. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) II. 393 The Zebra..could never be entirely mastered. 1844 Mrs. Browning Drama of Exile Poems 1850 I. 71 This shall..master with a look Your lion at his fasting. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. iv. xxviii, He meant to be master of a woman who would have liked to master him.

    3. techn. To temper or season; to modify. Now only in Dyeing, to season or age (dye stuffs), and in Tanning, to subject (skins) to the action of an astringent lye. (Cf. mastering vbl. n. 2.)

1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xix. xxxiii. (1495) 878 And wyth Attrament ynke is tempryd and maystryd [orig. acuitur]. Ibid. 879 The colour purpura is maystred [orig. acuitur] and amended wyth blood that droppyth of certen shelle fysshe. a 1648 Digby Closet Open. (1677) 59 That the hot herbs may be mastered with the cool. 1841 in Titles Patents (1854) 1145 An expeditious mode of unhairing, mastering, and tanning..hides and skins. 1862 O'Neill Dict. Calico Print. & Dyeing Index, Mastering or ageing of logwood.

    4. To make oneself master of (an art, science, etc.); to acquire complete knowledge or understanding of (a fact, a proposition), or complete facility in using (an instrument, etc.).

1740 J. Clarke Educ. Youth (ed. 3) 163 A boy has..mastered his Syntax. 1781 Cowper Parrot 9 Belinda's maids are soon preferred To teach him now and then a word, As Poll can master it. a 1839 Praed Poems (1864) II. 176 Away with ye, visions of law, Of cases I never shall master. 1865 Kingsley Herew. viii, Grammar, rhetoric, Latin prose and poetry..she mastered ere she was grown up. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xiv. (1878) 296 When he considered that he had mastered the meaning of it. 1878 R. W. Dale Lect. Preach. iv. 91 The instrument you have to master stands before you—the soul of man. 1901 Athenæum 27 July 120/3 He has not mastered the difference between ‘would’ and ‘should’.

    † b. ‘To execute with skill’ (J.). Obs.

1624 Bacon Consid. War w. Spain (1629) 3, I doe not take my selfe to bee so perfect in the customes..and priuileges of that Kingdome of Bohemia, as to be fit to handle that part; and I will not offer at that I cannot master.

    5. To act the part of master towards; to rule as a master; to be the master of (a servant, scholar, house, etc.).

1611 Shakes. Cymb. iv. ii. 383, I will not say Thou shalt be so well master'd. Ibid. 395, I good youth, And rather Father thee, than Master thee. 1711 Swift Jrnl. to Stella 2 Aug., The dog [his man Patrick] thinks he has the whip-hand of me; he begins to master me; so now I am resolved to part with him. 1715 M. Davies Athen. Brit. I. 19 He doubtless would have ordered it [St. Paul's School] to be Master'd by Learned Chaplains alone. 1790 R. Tyler Contrast ii. ii, Father said I should come as Colonel Manly's waiter,..but no man shall master me. a 1845 Hood Lamia i. 128, I have a house..within the walls of Corinth: Will you not master it as well as me? 1864 A. M{supc}Kay Hist. Kilmarnock (1880) 366 I'm your equal: I'll be maistered nae langer. 1881 Daily News 14 Sept. 3/1 The estate is not well mastered. 1898 Ibid. 30 June 6/7 It was..a magnificent school,..magnificently mastered.

    † b. intr. To act the master. Also to master it.

1656 S. H. Golden Law 67 He..did justly master it, and rule over his masters. 1793 F. Burney Diary V. ix. 402, I have been scholaring all day, and mastering too; for our lessons are mutual.

    † 6. trans. To have at one's disposal; to own, possess. Also intr. in to master of. Obs.

1593 Shakes. Lucr. 863 He hath it [treasure] when he cannot vse it, And leaues it to be maistred by his yong. 1596 ― Merch. V. v. i. 174 The wealth That the world masters. c 1600 ― Sonn. cvi, I see their antique Pen would have exprest Euen such a beautie as you maister now. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 175 Had hee mastered any weapon, he had doubtlesse saved himselfe; but wanting it his breath failed. 1654–66 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 314 Bidding his Treasurer give him higher rewards, than the prisoner could Master of.

    † b. To take possession of. Obs. (? nonce-use.)

1826 J. F. Cooper Mohicans xxv, The Hurons would follow up our trail, and master our scalps.

    7. To address by the style of ‘master’. nonce-use.

1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. i. (1879) 122 He who hath moni enough shalbe rabbied & maistered at euery word.

    
    

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     Add: 8. Sound Recording. To record the master disc or tape for (a record or recording); to make a recording of (a performance) from which a master tape or disc can be created. Also absol.

1960 [implied in *mastering vbl. n. 3]. 1967 DB Nov. 8/1 Monophonic lateral recordings are commonly mastered with variable ground pitch. 1978 Gramophone Mar. 1573 (Advt.), We fully appreciate the vital need for top quality pressings and, therefore, all records are now being mastered and manufactured for us in the Netherlands by a leading manufacturer specialising in really high quality. 1984 Sounds 1 Dec. 3/5 Utopia will be mastering and cutting the single, Phonogram will be pressing and distributing it. 1986 Studio Week July 13/3 Since we've begun mastering digitally the noise floor has dropped.

Oxford English Dictionary