mastery

Noun

mastery (usually uncountable, plural masteries)

1. (usually) The position or authority of a master; dominion; command; supremacy; superiority.
   • If divided by mountains, they will fight for the mastery of the passages of the tops.c. 1610, Sir Walter Raleigh, The Misery of Invasive War
   • The desert storm was riding in its strength; the travellers lay beneath the mastery of the fell simoom. Whirling wreaths and columns of burning wind, rushed around and over them.1892, James Yoxall, chapter 5, in The Lonely Pyramid
2. (usually) Superiority in war or competition; victory; triumph; preeminence.
   • They were faire Ladies, till they fondly ſtriu’d / With th’Heliconian maides for mayſtery; / Of whom they ouer-comen, were depriu’d / Of their proud beautie, and th’one moyity / Transform’d to fiſh, for their bold ſurquedry, / But th’vpper halfe their hew retayned ſtill, / And their ſweet skill in...1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 31, pages 370–371
   • The voice of them that shout for mastery.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 32:xxxii–18
3. (usually) The act or process of mastering; the state of having mastered; expertise.
   • He […]could attain to a mastery in all languages.1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer...
   • The learning and mastery of a tongue, being unpleasant in itself, should not be cumbered with other difficulties.1693, [John Locke], “§173”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC
4. (obsolete, usually) A contest for superiority.
   • […] pastimes of wrestling, and like maſteries betweene the Citizens of London and others of the Suburbes […]1623, John Speed, The Historie of Great Britain Under the Conquests of the Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans, page 596
   • Rury has given the word for some rare sport — a bout of games and masteries between me and Marcos Serkman to prove which is the better man.1936, John Clayton, The Anger of the North, page 69
5. (obsolete, usually) A masterly operation; a feat.
   • Ye welsh men..brake out vpon the Englysshe men in ye Bordour..and there made masteryes for a whyle.1516, Robert Fabyan, New cronycles of Englande and of Fraunce
   • That ye maye knowe..what masteryes they haue played.1546, John Bale, The actes of Englysh votaryes
6. (obsolete, usually) The philosopher's stone.