masterly
English · Thesaurus
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masterly¹
- /ˈmɑːstəli/ UK
- /ˈmæ-/ UK
- /ˈmæstɚli/ US
Where it comes from
PIE word
*méǵh₂s
From Middle English maisterli, from maister (“leader, ruler; high official; official in charge of a place; person in control; employer; owner; schoolmaster, teacher; scholar, sage; holder of a master's degree; religious teacher; master craftsman; expert; magician; social superior; husband; lover; Jesus Christ; a god; male stud animal”) + -li (suffix forming adjectives). Maister is derived from Old English mæġester (“master”) and Old French maistre (“master”) (modern French maître), both from Latin magister (“teacher; master”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s (“big, great”). The English word is analysable as master + -ly.
adjective more masterly · most masterly · masterlie
-
Executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill; masterful.
Her years of experience enabled her to render a masterly performance.
Similar: maestrolike, masterlike, masterous, able, artful, habile, accomplished, adept, adroit, apt, capable, competent
-
Like a master; arbitrary; domineering, imperious.
The godlie counſels of Salomon and Ieſus the ſonne of Sirach, for ſharpe kepinge in, and bridleinge of youth, are ment rather, for fatherlie correction, then maſterlie beating, rather for maners, than for learninge: for other places, than for ſcholes.
Similar: despotic, overbearing
masterly²
- /ˈmɑːstəli/ UK
- /ˈmæ-/ UK
- /ˈmæstɚli/ US
Where it comes from
From Middle English maisterli (“artistically; skilfully; in the manner of a conqueror or master; overconfidently”), from maister (see etymology 1) + -li (suffix forming adverbs); analysable as master + -ly (suffix forming adverbs).
Translations
Every language
adj executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill
| Español | señoril |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | meisterlich, meisterhaft |
| Italiano | maestrevole, magistrale, sapiente |
| Română | măiestru |
| Русский | мастерской masterskoj |
adv in a masterful manner — see also masterfully, magistrally
| Español | señorilmente |
|---|---|
| Italiano | maestrevolmente, magistralmente, magistrevolmente |
Talk about this word "masterly." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/masterly. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. masterly. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/masterly "masterly." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/masterly.Cite this
@misc{masterly_2026,
title = {masterly},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/masterly},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
