- past master
- noun Date: 1762 1. one who has held the office of worshipful master in a lodge of Freemasons or of master in a guild, club, or society 2. [alteration of passed master] one who is expert ; adept
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
past master
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Past master — Master Mas ter (m[.a]s t[ e]r), n. [OE. maistre, maister, OF. maistre, mestre, F. ma[^i]tre, fr. L. magister, orig. a double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr. me gas. Cf. {Maestro}, {Magister}, {Magistrate}, {Magnitude},… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
past master — past masters N COUNT: usu N at/in/of n If you are a past master at something, you are very skilful at it because you have had a lot of experience doing it. He was a past master at manipulating the media for his own ends... She is an adept rock… … English dictionary
Past master — Past Past, a. [From {Pass}, v.] Of or pertaining to a former time or state; neither present nor future; gone by; elapsed; ended; spent; as, past troubles; past offences. Past ages. Milton. [1913 Webster] {Past master}. See under {Master}. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
past master — n someone who is very skilled at doing something and has done it many times before = ↑expert past master at (doing) sth ▪ She s a past master at exploiting other people … Dictionary of contemporary English
past master — noun count someone who has a great deal of skill and experience in a particular activity: She is a past master at persuading people to help her … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
past master — n. 1. a person who formerly held the position of master, as in a lodge or club 2. [for passed master] a person who has had long experience in some occupation, art, etc.; expert … English World dictionary
past master — meaning ‘a person having special skill in an activity’, is spelt with past, not (as formerly) with passed, although the allusion is to someone who has ‘passed’ the necessary training and qualification to achieve that status (originally in the… … Modern English usage
past master — ► NOUN ▪ a person who is experienced or expert in an activity … English terms dictionary
past master — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms past master : singular past master plural past masters someone who has a great deal of skill and experience in a particular activity She is a past master at persuading people to help her … English dictionary
Past master — A Past Master is one who, having surpassed the position of a Master, can be regarded as highly skilled and experienced. The term is sometimes applied literally to persons who have led any organization or a subsidiary of that organization. It is… … Wikipedia
past master — 1. a person who is thoroughly experienced or exceptionally skilled in a profession, art, etc.: a past master at chess. 2. a person who has held the office of master in a guild, lodge, etc. [1755 65] * * * … Universalium
