past mistress

American  

noun

1. a woman who is thoroughly experienced or exceptionally skilled in a profession, art, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of past mistress

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

In recent years, she played Felicity Huffman's mother on "Desperate Housewives" and the past mistress of Tony Soprano's late father on "The Sopranos."

From US News • Sep. 20, 2014

In recent years, she played Felicity Huffman’s mother on Desperate Housewives and the past mistress of Tony Soprano’s late father on The Sopranos.

From The Guardian • Sep. 20, 2014

In recent years, she played Felicity Huffman's mother on “Desperate Housewives” and the past mistress of Tony Soprano's late father on “The Sopranos.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 20, 2014

Wasikowska — the pensive Alice in Tim Burton’s Wonderland, the troubled teen on In Therapy, Jane Eyre to Michael Fassbender’s Rochester — is a past mistress at playing odd girls.

From Time • Mar. 1, 2013

And in the art of nagging she was a past mistress.

From Fordham's Feud by Mitford, Bertram