masterly — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill; masterful.

   Synonyms

   maestrolikemasterlike

   Examples

   Her years of experience enabled her to render a masterly performance.

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   He made confeſsion of you, / And gaue you ſuch a maſterly report / For art and exerciſe in your defence, / And for your Rapier moſt eſpeciall, / That he cride out t' would be a ſight indeed / If one could match you; [...]

   H'as a ſtrange cunning tongue, why do you ſigh Sir? How maſterly he turns himſelf to catch me?

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   I have therefore drawn this Picture of her, which your Ladiſhip ſees; and I conceive it, to be very like the Originall, though the hand be not so maſterlie, as the Perſon deſerves, and I wiſh.

   Of all the pamphlets that came forth at that time, or perhaps of thoſe that have ſince appeared, this was the moſt eloquent and maſterly.

   samuel [Wesley], the youngeſt, though he was three years old before he aimed at a tune, yet by conſtantly hearing his brother [Charles Wesley junior] practiſe, and being accuſtomed to good muſic and maſterly execution, before he was ſix years old arrived at ſuch knowledge in muſic, that his extemporary performance on keyed inſtruments, like [Wolfgang Amadeus] mozart's, was ſo maſterly in point of invention, modulation, and accuracy of execution, as to ſurpaſs, in many particulars, the attainments of moſt profeſſors at any period of their lives.

   "My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution."

   I fancied you had good Diſpoſitions which, under maſterlie Trayning, would ripen into noble Principles; and therefore promoted your Marriage as far as my Intereſt with your Father had Weight.

   I could not but highly plume myself on my masterly management in getting rid of Bartleby. Masterly I call it, and such it must appear to any dispassionate thinker.

   It is a great moment even for a great artist when he can sit and sigh in solitary satisfaction before a finished picture. I had looked at it while I was waiting for dinner, and even in that empty hour it had seemed masterly; so that now, [...] I expected to feel in it that which surpasses the merely masterly of talent (to which degree of excellence ordinary painters, undowered by the divine afflatus, may attain by eminent industry) and approaches the superb – ecstatic.

   This is a masterly work of condensation, omitting nothing of importance and providing a most readable book that for a modest half-crown is incredibly good value.

   In 'Une page d'amour' by Emile Zola I found several townscapes painted or drawn in a masterly, masterly fashion – entirely in the sentiment of the simple passage in your letter.

2. Like a master; arbitrary; domineering, imperious.

   Usage

   • Derogatory
   • Obsolete
   • usually

   Synonyms

   despoticoverbearing

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The godlie counſels of Salomon and Ieſus the ſonne of Sirach, for ſharpe kepinge in, and bridleinge of youth, are ment rather, for fatherlie correction, then maſterlie beating, rather for maners, than for learninge: for other places, than for ſcholes.

   Many times fear is a profitable and an active ſervant, if it do not dominere and grow maſterlie.

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   Mrs. Muskrat had been somewhat timid about displaying these gold teeth. The fashion had not yet reached Green Meadows, but her husband had urged her to do it. "Nonsense, girle," he had said in his masterly manner, "I've got the money to buy the best gold teeth in the world, and why shouldn't you wear them?"

Adverb

1. In a masterful manner; competently, masterfully.

   Usage

   • Archaic

   Synonyms

   expertlyskilfully

   Examples

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   At length the sound of a flute broke upon mine ear; it was not played masterly, but the tones were very sweet; and what is more correct, perhaps, they harmonized with my feelings.

Adjective

1. having or revealing supreme mastery or skill

   Synonyms

   consummatemasterfulvirtuoso

   Examples

   a consummate artist

   consummate skill

   More examples (4)

   a masterful speaker

   masterful technique

   a masterly performance of the sonata

   a virtuoso performance