[ noun ] a form of address for a man <noun.communication>
Master \Mas"ter\ (m[.a]s"t[~e]r), n. [OE. maistre, maister, OF. maistre, mestre, F. ma[^i]tre, fr. L. magister, orig. a double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr. me`gas. Cf. {Maestro}, {Magister}, {Magistrate}, {Magnitude}, {Major}, {Mister}, {Mistress}, {Mickle}.] 1. A male person having another living being so far subject to his will, that he can, in the main, control his or its actions; -- formerly used with much more extensive application than now. (a) The employer of a servant. (b) The owner of a slave. (c) The person to whom an apprentice is articled. (d) A sovereign, prince, or feudal noble; a chief, or one exercising similar authority. (e) The head of a household. (f) The male head of a school or college. (g) A male teacher. (h) The director of a number of persons performing a ceremony or sharing a feast. (i) The owner of a docile brute, -- especially a dog or horse. (j) The controller of a familiar spirit or other supernatural being.
2. One who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time. --Shak.
Master of a hundred thousand drachms. --Addison.
We are masters of the sea. --Jowett (Thucyd.).
3. One who has attained great skill in the use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical art.
Great masters of ridicule. --Macaulay.
No care is taken to improve young men in their own language, that they may thoroughly understand and be masters of it. --Locke.
4. A title given by courtesy, now commonly pronounced m[i^]ster, except when given to boys; -- sometimes written {Mister}, but usually abbreviated to Mr.
5. A young gentleman; a lad, or small boy.
Where there are little masters and misses in a house, they are impediments to the diversions of the servants. --Swift.
6. (Naut.) The commander of a merchant vessel; -- usually called {captain}. Also, a commissioned officer in the navy ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant; formerly, an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under the commander, of sailing the vessel.
7. A person holding an office of authority among the Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person holding a similar office in other civic societies.
{Little masters}, certain German engravers of the 16th century, so called from the extreme smallness of their prints.
{Master in chancery}, an officer of courts of equity, who acts as an assistant to the chancellor or judge, by inquiring into various matters referred to him, and reporting thereon to the court.
{Master of arts}, one who takes the second degree at a university; also, the degree or title itself, indicated by the abbreviation M. A., or A. M.
{Master of the horse}, the third great officer in the British court, having the management of the royal stables, etc. In ceremonial cavalcades he rides next to the sovereign.
{Master of the rolls}, in England, an officer who has charge of the rolls and patents that pass the great seal, and of the records of the chancery, and acts as assistant judge of the court. --Bouvier. --Wharton.
{Past master}, (a) one who has held the office of master in a lodge of Freemasons or in a society similarly organized. (b) a person who is unusually expert, skilled, or experienced in some art, technique, or profession; -- usually used with at or of.
{The old masters}, distinguished painters who preceded modern painters; especially, the celebrated painters of the 16th and 17th centuries.
{To be master of one's self}, to have entire self-control; not to be governed by passion.
{To be one's own master}, to be at liberty to act as one chooses without dictation from anybody.
Note: Master, signifying chief, principal, masterly, superior, thoroughly skilled, etc., is often used adjectively or in compounds; as, master builder or master-builder, master chord or master-chord, master mason or master-mason, master workman or master-workman, master mechanic, master mind, master spirit, master passion, etc.
Throughout the city by the master gate. --Chaucer.
{Master joint} (Geol.), a quarryman's term for the more prominent and extended joints traversing a rock mass.
{Master key}, a key adapted to open several locks differing somewhat from each other; figuratively, a rule or principle of general application in solving difficulties.
{Master lode} (Mining), the principal vein of ore.
{Master mariner}, an experienced and skilled seaman who is certified to be competent to command a merchant vessel.
{Master sinew} (Far.), a large sinew that surrounds the hough of a horse, and divides it from the bone by a hollow place, where the windgalls are usually seated.
{Master singer}. See {Mastersinger}.
{Master stroke}, a capital performance; a masterly achievement; a consummate action; as, a master stroke of policy.
{Master tap} (Mech.), a tap for forming the thread in a screw cutting die.
{Master touch}. (a) The touch or skill of a master. --Pope. (b) Some part of a performance which exhibits very skillful work or treatment. ``Some master touches of this admirable piece.'' --Tatler.
{Master work}, the most important work accomplished by a skilled person, as in architecture, literature, etc.; also, a work which shows the skill of a master; a masterpiece.
{Master workman}, a man specially skilled in any art, handicraft, or trade, or who is an overseer, foreman, or employer.
Mister \Mis"ter\, v. t. To address or mention by the title Mr.; as, he mistered me in a formal way. [Colloq.]
Mister \Mis"ter\, n. [OF. mistier trade, office, ministry, need, F. m['e]tier trade, fr. L. ministerium service, office, ministry. See {Ministry}, {Mystery} trade.] [Written also {mester}.] 1. A trade, art, or occupation. [Obs.]
In youth he learned had a good mester. --Chaucer.
2. Manner; kind; sort. [Obs.] --Spenser.
But telleth me what mester men ye be. --Chaucer.
3. Need; necessity. [Obs.] --Rom. of R.
Mister \Mis"ter\, v. i. To be needful or of use. [Obs.]
As for my name, it mistereth not to tell. --Spenser.
Mister \Mis"ter\, n. [See {Master}, and cf. {Mistress}.] A title of courtesy prefixed to the name of a man or youth. It is usually written in the abbreviated form Mr.
To call your name, inquire your where, Or what you think of Mister Some-one's book, Or Mister Other's marriage or decease. --Mrs. Browning.
"She was so other-directed that when you were in her presence you felt you were important," said Rogers, host of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."
Encouraged by Mister Donut's growth, Duskin is now bringing in other restaurant chains with 1950s atmosphere. One, Studebaker's, has walls lined with bright neon tubes and displays a bright red open car in the center.
Like 7-Eleven, other U.S.-born chains such as Denny's and Mister Donut, which developed in Japan through ties with Japanese companies, are surpassing the American operations in sales per store.
International Multifoods Inc. said Tuesday it has been approached about selling its Mister Donut franchising business and that it is soliciting other proposals for the doughnut shop chain.
For example: Many movies and TV shows portray teachers as oddballs and nerds ("Mister Peepers"), as being cruel ("The Breakfast Club") or even as being sex fiends ("Pretty Maids All in a Row").
His was the largest Derby payoff since 1986, when Ferdinand won at 18-1, and Mister Frisky's eighth-place finish marked the 11th consecutive time that a favorite has failed.
Mr. Bregman's restructuring proposals included the sale of Multifoods' U.S. grain merchandising operation, a variety of its Canadian units and the Mister Donut operation in both countries.
"I said, `Everyone has the same first name (in Japan) _ Mister."' The two stoic men managed to crack a smile, Brusca noted with pride.
When Thomas S. Foley had been duly elected, the doorkeeper bellowed out, just as he does on State of the Union night, "Mister Speaker!," introducing new Speaker Thomas S. Foley to departing Speaker Jim Wright.
"Mister, what's your name?" he asked again.
"It's been some years since General _ Mister _ Noriega, the fugitive, has been seen in the jungle.
But Mr. De Prins wanted to be more than just Mister Video. He spoke of making Super Club one of the world's biggest entertainment companies within a few years.
Philips was drawn into an association with Mr. De Prins when the Dutch company began manufacturing his Mister Video dispensers.
Can Summer Squall (or Mister Frisky, Champagneforashley or Land Rush) handle the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance?
He was kind of halfhearted from that point." Mister Frisky, who'd wowed 'em in Puerto Rico and California by winning 16 straight races before Saturday, pooped out after his early struggle for the lead.
Personally, I am partial to the carb diet, which allows a daily fix of 18 Mister Salty pretzels or eight marshmallows.
In 1948, Logan directed and helped write the stage version of "Mister Roberts," Thomas Heggen's best seller about the officers and crew aboard a Navy cargo ship in the Pacific during World War II.
C etc. probably will run again before the Derby, while Summer Squall and Mister Frisky are slated for R & R, so he might attract the custom of folks with short memories if he shows impressively again.
International Multifoods Corp. announced Monday that it had agreed to sell its Mister Donut franchising operations in the United States and Canada to rival Dunkin' Donuts Inc.
"Even though they (children) are tiny, it's a big bridge," Vedeneeva said during her November visit to Pittsburgh's WQED-TV, home of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" for the past 20 years.