masterhood 
I would . . . accommodate quietly to his masterhood, 
smile undisturbed at his ineradicable ambition. 
Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre, xxxiv. 
master-joint (mas'ter-joint), n. In geol., the 
most marked or best-defined system of joints or 
divisional planes by which a roek is intersected 
this system would be designated as a master-joint. If 
there are two well-developed systems of joints and an- 
other which is less so, the former would both be included 
under the designation of master-joints. 
master-key (mas'ter-ke), n. 1. A key which 
opens (masters) many locks so differently con- 
structed that the key proper to each will open 
none of the others. 
A very Master-Key to every Body's strong Box. 
Congrevf, Way of the World, iii. 
2. Figuratively, a general clue to lead put of 
many difficulties; a guide to the solution of 
many questions or doubts. 
The discernment of characters is the master key of hu- 
man policy. Goldsmith, Phanor. 
masterless (mas'ter-les), a. [< ME. maisterles ; 
< master^ + -less."] 1. Not having a master; 
uncontrolled or unprotected by a master, in 
England, in early times, a masterless man that is, one 
who could not prove either that he was a freeman or that 
he was under the control of a master was beyond the 
pale of the law, and could legally be treated as a vaga- 
bond, or consigned to a master, or even put to death. 
Negroes were subject to similar conditions in the south- 
ern United States during the existence of slavery. 
A masterless man? . . . He had better not to speak to 
me, unless he is in lore with gaol and gallows. 
Kingsley, Westward Ho, vii. 
In English society of a far later time we find " masterless 
men " to be a name of thieves, beggars, and peace-breakers. 
F. Pollock, Land Laws, p. SO. 
2. Free from mastery or ownership; liberated 
from or not subject to a master; having unre- 
strained liberty. 
Ther sholde ye se stedes and horse renne maisterles, their 
reynes trailynge vndir fote, wher-of the sadeles were all 
blody of knyghtes that ther-ynne hadde be slayn. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.\ ii. 211. 
What mean these masterless and gory swords ? 
Shak., R. and J., v. 3. 142. 
3. That cannot be mastered; ungovernable; 
beyond control. 
Such vast heath-flres are lighted up that they often get 
to a masterless head. Gilbert 
masterlessness (mas'ter-les-nes), n. The state 
or quality of being masterless or without a 
master; unrestrainedness. Hare. 
masterliness (mas'ter-li-nes), n. The condition 
or quality of being masterly; masterly ability 
or skill. 
master-lode (mas'ter-lod), n. Same as cham- 
pion lode (which see, under lode*-). 
masterly (mas'ter-li), a. [= D. meestcrlijk = 
MLG. mesterlik = OHG. meigtarlili, MHG. meis- 
terlich, G. meisterlich = Sw. nuisterlig = Dan. 
mesterlig; as manter 1 + -fy/ 1 .] 1. Pertaining to 
or characteristic of a master; characteristic of 
one who is master of his art or subject. 
But when action or persons are to be described, . . . how 
bold, how masterly are the strokes of Virgil ! 
Dryden, Account of Annus Mirabilis. 
2. Acting like a master; imperious; domineer- 
ing; masterful. [Rare.] 
masterly (mas'ter-li), orfr. [= D. meesterlijk 
= MLG. mesterlike = OHG. meistarlihho, MHG. 
meisterliche, G. meisterlich; as master^ + -fy 2 .] 
In a masterly manner ; with the skill or ability 
of a master. 
Masterly done : 
The very life seems warm upon her lip. 
Shak., W. T., v. 3. 66. 
masteroust, mastroust (mas'ter-us, -trus), a. 
[Formerly also maistrous; < master 1 + -ous.] 
Characteristic of a master; masterly; skilful. 
Must we learne from Canons and quaint Sermonings 
interlin'd with barbarous Latin to illumin a period, to 
wreath an Enthyrnema with maistrous dexterity ? 
Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus. 
masterpiece (mas'ter-pes), n. 1. A work or 
performance of a master; 'a piece of work of 
surpassing excellence ; any performance or pro- 
duction superior to others of its kind, whether 
by the same person or by others. 
Here we must rest ; this is our master-piece; 
We cannot think to go beyond this. 
B. Jonson, Volpone, v. 1. 
At an earlier period they had studied the master-pieces 
of ancient genius. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. 
2f. Chief excellence or talent. 
There is uo master-piece in art like policy. 
Beau, and FL, Laws of Candy, iv, 2. 
3652 
Dissimulation was his masterpiece. 
Clarendon, Great Rebellion. 
master-prizet (mas'ter-priz), . A masterly or 
commanding stroke; a move, stroke, or game 
worthy of a master hand or mind. 
She hath play'd her master-prize, a rare one. 
Fletcher, Pilgrim, iii. 4. 
There is some notable masterprize of roguery 
This drum strikes up for. 
Middleton, Game at Chess, iii. 1. 
mastership (mas'ter-ship), n. [= OFries. mas- 
terskiji, mestcrskip = D. meesterschap = MLG. 
mesterschop = OHG. meisterscaft, MHG. G. 
meisterschaft = Sw. masterskap = Dan. mester- 
skab; as master 1 + -ship.'] 1. The state or office 
of a master; a master's position or rank: as, 
the mastership of a school, or of a vessel. 
Yet these conscientious Men . . . wanted not boldness 
... to seize into their hands, or not unwillingly to ac- 
cept, . , . Collegiate Masterships in the Universities. 
Milton, Hist. England, iii. 
The .kinds of this seignoury, Seneca makes two : the 
one, . . . power or command ; the other, . . . propriety 
or mastership. Raleigh, Hist. World, I. ix. 1. 
2. Masterly skill or capacity ; superiority; mas- 
tery. 
That, when the sea was calm, all boats alike 
Show'd mastership in floating. Shak., Cor., iv. 1. 7. 
Where noble youths for mastership should strive. 
Dryden, tr. of Ovid's Metamorph., i. 
3t. A chief work; a masterpiece. 
Two youths of royal blood, renown'd in tight, 
The mastership of Heaven in face and mind. 
Dryden, Pal. and Arc., ii. 318. 
4f. In address, your mastership, like your lord- 
ship, etc. Sometimes contracted to maship. 
How now, Signior Launce ! what news with your mas- 
tership? Shak., T. G. of V., iii. 1. 280. 
Save your mastership! 
Do yon know us, sir? 
Fletcher (and another ?), Prophetess, iii. 1. 
master-sinew (mas'ter-sin"u), n. In farriery, 
the tendon of the gastrocnemius muscle, which 
is inserted into the hock. It corresponds to 
the tendon of Achilles in man. 
mastersinger (mas'ter-sing"er), n. [Tr. of 
MHG. meistersinger, G. meistersiiif/ar (G. also 
meistersanger); < meister, master, + singer, sing- 
er.] One of a class of German poets and musi- 
cians, chiefly peasants and artisans, who began 
to form gilds or societies for the cultivation of 
tlieir art in the fourteenth century. Nuremberg 
was their principal seat, and Hans Sachs, a shoemaker of 
that place, was the most celebrated of them ; but socie- 
ties were founded in all the principal cities, many of 
which were maintained till the seventeenth century, while 
that of Ulm continued in existence till 1839. 
Through these streets so broad and stately, these obscure 
and dismal lanes, 
Walked of yore the Mastersingers, chanting rude poetic 
strains. Longfellow, Nuremberg. 
master-spring (mas'ter-spring), n. The spring 
which sets in motion or regulates the whole 
work or machine. 
master-stroke (mas'ter-strok), n. 1. A mas- 
terly achievement ; a wonderfully clever or suc- 
cessful action. 
How oft, amazed and ravished, yon have seen 
The conduct, prudence, and stupendous art, 
And master-strokes in each mechanick part. 
Sir It. Blackmore. 
2. In art, an important or capital line. 
Some painters will hit the chief lines and masterstrokes 
of a face so truly that, through all the differences of age, 
the picture shall still bear a resemblance. 
Waller, Poems, ii., Pref. 
Paul should himself direct me : I would trace 
His master-strokes, and draw from his design. 
Cmcper, Task, ii. 398. 
master-touch (mas'ter-tuch), . The touch or 
finish of a master. 
I have here only mentioned some master-touches of this 
admirable piece. Tatter, No. 156. 
master-wheel (mas'ter-hwel), . The main 
or chief wheel in a machine; specifically, a 
wheel which acts as a driver or imparts mo- 
tion to other parts, as the large cog-wheel of a 
horse-power. 
masterwork (mas'ter-werk), n. [= MLG. mes- 
tcrwerk = G. meisterwerk = Sw. masterverk = 
Dan. mesterwa!rk; as master 1 + worfc.] Prin- 
cipal performance ; masterpiece ; chef-d'oeuvre. 
Yet let me touch one point of this great act, 
That famous siege, the master-work of all. 
Daniel, Death of the Erie of Devonshire. 
Here by degrees his master-work arose. 
Thomson, Castle of Indolence, ii. 19. 
masterwort (mas'ter-wert), n. [A tr. of Im~ 
peratoria: sense variously explained.] A name 
of several umbelliferous plants, (a) Properly, 
Peucedanum(lmperatoria') Ostruthium, a native of central 
mastic 
Europe, formerly much cultivated as a pot-herb. Its root 
is an aromatic stimulant, (b) An American plant, Hera- 
cleum lanatum. Its root has stimulant and carminative 
properties, (c) Archangelica atropurpurea, an infusion of 
which is sometimes used in flatulent colic. Dwarf mas- 
terwort, llacyuetia Epipactix. Great black master- 
wort, Astrantut major. Small black masterwort, A- 
trantia miiutr.VfilA or English masterwort. Same 
as herb-Gerard. 
mastery (mas'ter-i), n. [< ME. mastry, mais- 
try, maijstrye, maistrie, meystry, < OF. maistrie 
(= Sp. maestria = Pg. mestria = It. maestria), 
mastery , < maistre, master : see master 1 , .] 1. 
The state of being a master; power of com- 
mand or control ; rule; dominion; sway. 
A monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 165. 
For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four champions fierce, 
Strive here for mastery. Milton, P. L., ii. 899. 
Their mastery of the sea gave them along every coast a 
secure basis of operations. 
J. R. Oreen, Conquest of England, iii. 
2. Ascendancy in war or in competition ; the 
upper hand; superiority; preeminence. 
It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery. 
Ex. xxxii. 18. 
Riding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle, 
The mastery belongs to me. 
Ballad of King Arthur (Child's Ballads, I. 242). 
3. Expert knowledge or skill; power of using 
or exercising ; dexterity : as, the mastery of an 
art or science. 
The 16 tnedicyn ajens the feuere pestilenciale, and the 
maistrif to cure it. 
Book of Quinte Essence (ed. Furnivall), p. 23. 
O, had I now your manner, maistry, might, . . . 
How would I draw ! B. Jonson, Poet to the Painter. 
He could attain to a mastery in all languages. Tillotson. 
4. Masterly attainment; the gaining of mas- 
tership. 
Now I wole teche gou the maistrie of departynge of 
gold fro siluir whanne thei be meyngid togidere. 
Book of Quinte Essence (ed. Furnivall). p. 9. 
A science whose mastery demands a whole life of labo- 
rious diligence. Story, Misc. Writings, p. 340. 
5t. A contest for superiority. Holland. 
He would often times run, leap, and prove masteries 
with his chiefe courtiers. 
Knollts, Hist. Turks (1603). (Nares.) 
The youth of the several! wards and parishes contend 
in other masteries and pastimes. Evelyn, Diary, Jan., 1646. 
6f. A masterly operation or act; a triumph of 
skill. 
Taketh good heed, ye shul wel seen at ye, 
That I wol doon a maistrie er I go. 
Chaucer, Canon's Yeoman's Tale, 1. 49. 
No maystry is it to get a friend, but for to keepe him 
long. Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 91. 
7f. The finding of the magisterium or philoso- 
pher's stone ; also, the stone itself. 
I am the lord of the philosopher's stone, . . . 
I am the master of the mastery. 
B. Jonson, Alchemist, iv. 1. 
mastful (mast'ful), o. [< mast* + -ful.} 
Abounding with mast, or the fruit of the oak, 
beech, and other forest-trees. 
masthead (mast'hed), . 1. The top or head 
of the mast of a ship or vessel ; technically, the 
top or head of the lower mast, but by extension 
the highest point of the mast. Thus, a sailor may 
be sent to the masthead (the top of the lower mast) as a 
lookout-man, or for punishment : to carry the colors at 
the masthead is to carry them at the highest point of the 
mast. 
2. One who is stationed at the masthead: as, 
the sundown masthead. 
masthead (mast'hed), v. t. [< masthead, .] 1. 
To raise to the masthead; place or display at 
the masthead. 
In a minute the flag, jack down, was mastheaded, and 
fluttering its fair folds upon the breeze. 
W. C. Russell, Jack's Courtship, xlvii. 
2. To punish, as a sailor, by sending to the 
masthead (the top of one of the lower masts) 
for a certain or an indefinite time. 
The next morning I was regularly mastheaded. 
Marryat, Frank Mildmay. iv. (Dames.) 
mast-hoop (mast/hop), . A wooden or iron 
hoop on a mast. 
mast-house, masting-house (mast'-, mas'ting- 
hous), w. A large roofed building in which 
masts are made or prepared for use. 
mastic (mas'tik), . and a. [Also mastich, for- 
merly also mi, stick : < ME. nutstik = D. ma.ttik, < 
F. mastic = Pr. -tintxtir, mttxtec = Sp. obs. md.xtirix 
(usually iihiinrii/a, < Ar. al-mastake) = Pg. max- 
~L.~ 
i = \\.ni</t.-tice,mastico(=Qi.mastiJC,<~LL.~M.L. 
iinixti.f). < L. mnntii'lic, also maxtifi; LL. iiinsti- 
chum and ;n,A(j,< Gr. uanri^ri, mastic, so called 
because used as in the East as chewing-gum, < 
