| master | 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. The employer of a servant. The owner of a slave. The person to whom an apprentice is articled. A sovereign, prince, or feudal noble; a chief, or one exercising similar authority. The head of a household. The male head of a school or college. A male teacher. The director of a number of persons performing a ceremony or sharing a feast. The owner of a docile brute, especially a dog or horse. 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. "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." (Maccaulay) "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, 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. 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, especially. 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. . Past master, one who has held the office of master in a lodge of Freemasons or in a society similarly organised. 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. Master, signifying chief, principal, masterly, superior, thoroughly skilled, etc, is often used adjiectively 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, a tap for forming the thread in a screw cutting die. Master touch. The touch or skill of a master. Some part of a performance which exhibits very skillful work or treatment. "Some master touches of this admirable piece." . 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. Origin: OE. Maistre, maister, OF. Maistre, mestre, F. Maitre, fr. L. Magister, orig. A double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr. Cf. Maestro, Magister, Magistrate, Magnitude, Major, Mister, Mistress, Mickle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| Master, Arthur | U.S. Physician, *1895. See: Master test, Master's two-step exercise test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| master cast | A replica of the prepared tooth surfaces, residual ridge areas, and/or other parts of the dental arch as reproduced from an impression. (05 Mar 2000) |
| master eye | The eye that is customarily used for monocular tasks. Synonym: master eye. (05 Mar 2000) |
| master gland | pituitary gland |
| Master's two-step exercise test | An early and long-used exercise challenge to identify ischemic heart disease using a pair of nine inch steps with a platform on top, the number of trips by the patient arbitrarily chosen and related to age and body weight. See: two-step exercise test. Synonym: Master's two-step exercise test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Master test | An early and long-used exercise challenge to identify ischemic heart disease using a pair of nine inch steps with a platform on top, the number of trips by the patient arbitrarily chosen and related to age and body weight. See: two-step exercise test. Synonym: Master's two-step exercise test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Aub-DuBois table | Table of basal metabolic rates in calories per square meter of body surface per hour or day for different ages. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Gaffky table | A numerical rating for the classification of tuberculosis according to the number of tubercle bacilli in the sputum, ranging from 1 (one to four organisms in the whole preparation) to 9 (an average of 100 per field). Synonym: Gaffky scale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitreous table | The inner table of one of the cranial bones; it is more compact and harder than the outer table. Synonym: lamina internal ossium cranii. (05 Mar 2000) |
| water table | <ecology> The zone of saturation at the highest average depth during the wettest season, it is at least six inches thick and persists in the soil for more than a few weeks. (09 Oct 1997) |
| contingency table | A tabular cross-classification of data such that subcategories of one characteristic are indicated in rows (horizontally) and subcategories of another are indicated in columns (vertically). (05 Mar 2000) |
| cross-table lateral projection | <radiology> Lateral projection radiography of a supine subject using a horizontal X-ray beam. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inner table of skull | The inner compact layer of the cranial bones. Synonym: lamina interna cranii. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusal table | The occlusal or grinding surfaces of the bicuspid and molar teeth. (05 Mar 2000) |