Meaning and Origin
What does the name Master mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
User Submitted Origins
User Submitted Meanings
- A user from Rhode Island, U.S. says the name Master is of English origin and means "is like you good at it".
- A submission from Canada says the name Master means "God at something" and is of Japanese origin.
- A user from Virginia, U.S. says the name Master is of American origin and means "boss".
- A user from Kenya says the name Master is of African origin and means "Nairobi: cool water".
- A male person having another living being so far subject to his will, that he can, in the main, control his or its actions; -- formerly used with much more extensive application than now.
- The employer of a servant.
- The owner of a slave.
- The person to whom an apprentice is articled.
- A sovereign, prince, or feudal noble; a chief, or one exercising similar authority.
- The head of a household.
- The male head of a school or college.
- A male teacher.
- The director of a number of persons performing a ceremony or sharing a feast.
- The owner of a docile brute, -- especially a dog or horse.
- The controller of a familiar spirit or other supernatural being.
- The employer of a servant.
- One who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time." Master of a hundred thousand drachms." [Addison.]"We are masters of the sea." [Jowett (Thucyd.).]
- One who has attained great skill in the use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical art."Great masters of ridicule." [Macaulay.]"No care is taken to improve young men in their own language, that they may thoroughly understand and be masters of it." [Locke.]
- A title given by courtesy, now commonly pronounced mĭster, except when given to boys; -- sometimes written Mister, but usually abbreviated to Mr.
- A young gentleman; a lad, or small boy."Where there are little masters and misses in a house, they are impediments to the diversions of the servants." [Swift.]
- [Naut] The commander of a merchant vessel; -- usually called captain. Also, a commissioned officer in the navy ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant; formerly, an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under the commander, of sailing the vessel.
- A person holding an office of authority among the Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person holding a similar office in other civic societies."Throughout the city by the master gate." [Chaucer.]
Note: ☞ Master, signifying chief principal masterly superior thoroughly skilled, etc., is often used adjectively or in compounds; as, master builder or master-builder, master chord or master-chord, master mason or master-mason, master workman or master-workman, master mechanic, master mind, master spirit, master passion, etc.
Etymology: OE. maistre maister, OF. maistre mestre, F. maître, fr. L. magister, orig. a double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr. me`gas. Cf. Maestro Magister Magistrate Magnitude Major Mister Mistress Mickle
- To become the master of; to subject to one's will, control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to subdue."Obstinacy and willful neglects must be mastered, even though it cost blows." [Locke.]
- To gain the command of, so as to understand or apply; to become an adept in; as, to master a science.
- To own; to posses.(Obs)"The wealth That the world masters." [Shak.]
- An original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
- Key that secures entrance everywhere
- Presiding officer of a school
- An artist of consummate skill ("a master of the violin" and "one of the old masters")
- An authority qualified to teach apprentices
- Directs the work of others
- Someone who holds a master's degree from academic institution
- An officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship
- A person who has general authority over others
- A combatant who is able to defeat rivals
- Have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of
- Be or become completely proficient or skilled in ("She mastered Japanese in less than two years")
- Get on top of; deal with successfully
- Have dominance or the power to defeat over ("Her pain completely mastered her" and "The methods can master the problems")
- Most important element ("the master bedroom" and "a master switch")
From Middle English maister, mayster, meister, from Old English mǣster, mæġster, mæġester, mæġister, magister (“master”), from Latin magister (“chief, teacher, leader”), from Old Latin magester, from mag- (as in magnus (“great”)) + -ester/-ister (compare minister (“servant”)). Reinforced by Old French maistre, mestre from the same Latin source. Compare also Saterland Frisian Mäster (“master”), West Frisian master (“master”), Dutch meester (“master”), German Meister (“master”).
- Someone who has control over something or someone.
- The owner of an animal or slave.
- (nautical) The captain of a merchant ship; a master mariner.
- (dated) The head of a household.
- Someone who employs others.
- An expert at something.
- Mark Twain was a of fiction.
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- A tradesman who is qualified to teach apprentices.
- (dated) A schoolmaster.
- A skilled artist.
- (dated) A man or a boy; mister. See Master.
- A master's degree; a type of postgraduate degree, usually undertaken after a bachelor degree.
- She has a in psychology.
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- A person holding such a degree.
- He is a of marine biology.
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- The original of a document or of a recording.
- The band couldn't find the , so they re-recorded their tracks.
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- (film) The primary wide shot of a scene, into which the closeups will be edited later.
- (law) A parajudicial officer (such as a referee, an auditor, an examiner, or an assessor) specially appointed to help a court with its proceedings.
- The case was tried by a , who concluded that the plaintiffs were the equitable owners of the property. […]
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- (engineering) A device that is controlling other devices or is an authoritative source (e.g. master database).
- (freemasonry) A person holding an office of authority, especially the presiding officer.
- (by extension) A person holding a similar office in other civic societies.
mast + -er
- (nautical, in combination) A vessel having a specified number of masts.
- a two-
master was also found in the following language(s): French, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Old Frisian, Spanish, Swedish, and West Frisian