masterly

adj

1. Executed in the manner of a master; showing competence and skill; masterful.

   “Her years of experience enabled her to render a masterly performance.”

   “He made confeſsion of you, / And gaue you ſuch a maſterly report / For art and exerciſe in your defence, / And for your Rapier moſt eſpeciall, / That he cride out t' would be a ſight indeed / If one could match you; [...]”

   “H'as a ſtrange cunning tongue, why do you ſigh Sir? How maſterly he turns himſelf to catch me?”

   “I have therefore drawn this Picture of her, which your Ladiſhip ſees; and I conceive it, to be very like the Originall, though the hand be not so maſterlie, as the Perſon deſerves, and I wiſh.”

   “Of all the pamphlets that came forth at that time, or perhaps of thoſe that have ſince appeared, this was the moſt eloquent and maſterly.”

2. (derogatory, obsolete, usually)Like a master; arbitrary; domineering, imperious.

   “The godlie counſels of Salomon and Ieſus the ſonne of Sirach, for ſharpe kepinge in, and bridleinge of youth, are ment rather, for fatherlie correction, then maſterlie beating, rather for maners, than for learninge: for other places, than for ſcholes.”

   “Many times fear is a profitable and an active ſervant, if it do not dominere and grow maſterlie.”

   “Mrs. Muskrat had been somewhat timid about displaying these gold teeth. The fashion had not yet reached Green Meadows, but her husband had urged her to do it. "Nonsense, girle," he had said in his masterly manner, "I've got the money to buy the best gold teeth in the world, and why shouldn't you wear them?"”

adv

1. (archaic)In a masterful manner; competently, masterfully.

   “At length the sound of a flute broke upon mine ear; it was not played masterly, but the tones were very sweet; and what is more correct, perhaps, they harmonized with my feelings.”