masterly

[mas-ter-lee, mah-ster-]

See more synonyms for masterly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

like or befitting a master, as in skill or art; worthy of a master; very skillful: a masterly presentation of the budget.

adverb

in a masterly manner.

Origin of masterly

First recorded in 1375–1425, masterly is from the late Middle English word maisterly. See master, -ly

Related formsmas·ter·li·ness, noun

Can be confusedmasterful masterly (see usage note at masterful)

Usage note

See masterful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for masterly

Contemporary Examples

How her role became more “maternal rather than marital,” and branding Hawking an “all-powerful emperor” and “masterly puppeteer.”
The Other Side of Stephen Hawking: Strippers, Aliens, and Disturbing Abuse Claims
Marlow Stern
November 6, 2014
Ten years of sweat by Charles Graeber lead to a masterly account of a man trusted to heal who instead killed with impunity.
My Favorite Books of 2013: Jill Lepore, Adelle Waldman, James Salter & More
Lucas Wittmann
December 15, 2013
How he did it in the year 1973 is explained by Horne in a masterly and compelling way.
Inside Kissinger's Brain
Andrew Roberts
June 15, 2009

Historical Examples

All these thoughts came to her with rapidity, as Crane talked with masterly judgment.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
The whole is first laid in with a very delicate and masterly gray, 8.
Modern Painters Volume I (of V)
John Ruskin
It was really magnificent, full of masterly breadth of colouring.
His Masterpiece
Emile Zola
She suddenly received a masterly blow just on the right cheek.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
How masterly is he in all the points of his profession as evinced in a criminal court.
The Macdermots of Ballycloran
Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for masterly

masterly

adjective

of the skill befitting a mastera masterly performance

Derived Formsmasterliness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for masterly

adj.

1530s, "overbearing;" 1660s, "skillful," from master (n.) + -ly.

masterly

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}masterly

Usage note

Examples from the Web for masterly

Contemporary Examples

How her role became more “maternal rather than marital,” and branding Hawking an “all-powerful emperor” and “masterly puppeteer.”

Ten years of sweat by Charles Graeber lead to a masterly account of a man trusted to heal who instead killed with impunity.

How he did it in the year 1973 is explained by Horne in a masterly and compelling way.

Historical Examples

All these thoughts came to her with rapidity, as Crane talked with masterly judgment.

The whole is first laid in with a very delicate and masterly gray, 8.

It was really magnificent, full of masterly breadth of colouring.

She suddenly received a masterly blow just on the right cheek.

How masterly is he in all the points of his profession as evinced in a criminal court.

masterly

Word Origin and History for masterly

adj.

Origin of masterly