Mäs'ter-ly1, a.
a. 1. Indicating thorough knowledge or superior skill; suitable to a master; most excellent; skillful; as, a masterly design; a masterly performance; a masterly stroke of policy. The Commons, faithful to their system, remained in a wise and masterly inactivity. Sir Jas. Mackintosh. 2. Imperious; domineering; arbitrary.