masterly
masterly Lexical Profile
masterly Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Performed or executed with the supreme skill, artistry, or proficiency of a master.
"The biographer gave a masterly account of the poet's turbulent early years."
Domineering, imperious, or fond of exercising authority like a master (now rare or archaic).
"Waiters hurried to obey his masterly nod from across the dining hall."
• adverb
In a supremely skillful or expert manner.
"The symphony was so masterly conducted that the audience rose for an immediate ovation."
Word Nuance & Usage
In careful usage, 'masterly' is sometimes distinguished from 'masterful', with 'masterly' meaning possessing the supreme skill of a master and 'masterful' meaning domineering or commanding, though in modern English the two are frequently used interchangeably to mean highly skilled.
• Rhymes for masterly
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'maisterli', formed from the noun 'master' (ultimately from Latin 'magister', meaning 'chief' or 'teacher') combined with the suffix '-ly'.