Măs'ter-y, n.
n. [O. Fr. maistrie, meistrie, mestrie, Pr. majestria, maestria, Sp. & It. maestria, O. Sp. mestria.]
Sense 1. The act of mastering.
The learning and mastery of a tongue, being unpleasant in itself, should not be cumbered with other difficulties. Locke.
Sense 2. The position or authority of a master; dominion; command; supremacy.
If divided by mountains, they will fight for the mastery of the passages of the tops. Raleigh.
Sense 3. Superiority in competition; pre-eminence.
Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. 1 Cor. ix. 25.
Sense 4. Victory in war.
It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery. Ex. xxxii. 18.
Sense 5. Eminent skill; superior dexterity.
He could attain to a mastery in all languages. Tillotson.
O, had I now your manner, mastery, might, Your power of handling, shadow, air, and spright, How I would draw! B. Jonson.
Sense 6. Contest for superiority. [Obs.] Holland.
Sense 7. A success attained by skill; a masterpiece; a triumph.
O, but to have gulled him Had been a mastery. B. Jonson.
Sense 8. Specifically, the philosopher’s stone.