past mistress

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noun

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

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Present, Past, And Sometimes Perfect Participles Participles are words derived from verbs that can function as adjectives or as parts of verb phrases to create verb tenses. The two main types of participles are the present participle and the past participle. The perfect participle depends on the past participle for its forms. Participial phrases function as adjectives that modify the subjects or other nouns in sentences. The Present Participle Adding -ing …

These Common Words Have Nasty Pasts Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.

Nearby words

passé composé, past, past continuous, past life therapy, past master, past mistress, past one's prime, past participle, past perfect, past progressive, pasta

Origin of past mistress

First recorded in 1865–70

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for past mistress

The American girl is past-mistress in the art of turning to account her little capital of beauty, youth, and virtue.
Jonathan and His Continent|Max O'Rell
She was a past-mistress in the arts of scandal-mongering, nagging, and back-biting.
A Woman's Burden|Fergus Hume
Patricia was a past-mistress in the art of ignoring what she considered inconvenient, or personal, remarks.
Patricia|Emilia Elliott
The assaults she made upon his fidelity proved her to be past-mistress of tactics and strategy.
The Boss of Little Arcady|Harry Leon Wilson

Already you are past-mistress on the subject of vases and statues.
Letters to an Unknown|Prosper Mrime