Search the Dictionary

To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand. Addison.

serving an independent sovereign or master; bound by a feudal tenure; obliged to be faithful and loyal to a superior, as a vassal to his lord; faithful; loyal; as, a liege man; a liege subject.

clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift. Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away. Bacon.

lexion, and many traits of character. 'The as like you As cherry is to cherry. Shak. Like master, like man. Old Prov. He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. Ps. cxlvii. 16.

A master of the use of language; a talker. [Obs.] I'll dispute with him; He's a rare linguist. J. Webster.

One who teaches the letters or elements of knowledge; a petty schoolmaster. Burke.

One who has power and authority; a master; a ruler; a governor; a prince; a proprietor, as of a manor. But now I was the lord Of this fair mansion. Shak. Man over men He made not lord. Milton.

animal whose fur was formerly much in req [Written also lusern and luzern.] The polecat, mastern, and the richskinned lucern I know to chase. Beau. & Fl.

The masterwort (Peucedanum Ostruthium).

A master in any art, especially in music; a composer.

to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science, including enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, incantation, etc. An appearance made by some magic. Chaucer. Celestial magic, a suppose…

Master; sir; -- a title of the Middle Ages, given to a person in authority, or to one having a license from a university to teach philosophy and the liberal arts.

Of or pertaining to a master or magistrate, or one in authority; having the manner of a magister; official; commanding; authoritative. Hence: Overbearing; dictatorial; dogmatic. When magisterial duties from his home Her father called. Glover. We are not magisterial in opinions, nor, dictator-like, obtrude our notions o…

Mastery; powerful medical influence; renowned efficacy; a sovereign remedy. [Obs.] Holland.

Pertaining to a master; magisterial; authoritative; dogmatic.

Master. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.

Mastery; superiority; art. See Mastery. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A man who has authority to act, within certain limits, as master of the house; a steward; also, a chief minister or officer.

An adult male servant; also, a vassal; a subject. Like master, like man. Old Proverb. The vassal, or tenant, kneeling, ungirt, uncovered, and holding up his hands between those of his lord, professed that he did become his man from that day forth, of life, limb, and earthly honor. Blackstone.

mate, second mate, third mate, etc. In the navy, a subordinate officer or assistant; as, master's mate; surgeon's mate.