Masterful vs Practised - What's the difference?
masterful | practised |
Of or pertaining to the manner of a master of an art, technique, profession, or craft; masterly.
:The brushwork on the skin tones was masterful .
In the manner of a master; very skillful.
Having or showing the qualities of a master vis-a-vis a dependent or subordinate; authoritative; domineering.
* 1847 , Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre , Chapter 14, Rochester to Jane by the fire:
* 1868-69 , Louisa May Alcott, Little Women , Chapter 38:
* 1908 , E. M. Forster, A Room with a View , Chapter 18, Lucy to Mr. Beebe about Cecil:
(practise)
(transitive, British, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) To repeat as a way of improving one's skill in that activity.
(intransitive, British, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) To repeat an activity in this way.
(transitive, British, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) To perform or observe in a habitual fashion.
(transitive, British, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) To pursue (a career, especially law, fine art or medicine).
(intransitive, obsolete, British, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) To conspire.
To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do.
* Shakespeare
* Alexander Pope
To make use of; to employ.
* Massinger
To teach or accustom by practice; to train.
* Landor
As an adjective masterful
is of or pertaining to the manner of a master of an art, technique, profession, or craft; masterly.As a verb practised is
(practise).masterful
English
Alternative forms
* masterfull (archaic)Adjective
(en adjective)- The masterful conducting ensured the orchestra gave of their best .
- ...do you not agree with me that I have a right to be a little masterful , abrupt; perhaps exacting, sometimes, on the grounds I stated...
- When John spoke in that masterful tone, Meg always obeyed, and never regretted her docility.
- ...it was that he is so masterful . I found that he wouldn't let me go my own way.
Usage notes
Historically, definition 3 of masterful''''' (authoritative, domineering) has long been losing ground to definitions 1 and 2 (masterly, skillful). In nineteenth century US usage of '''''masterful , definition 3 was almost always meant (10:1). In contemporary US usage, however, the situation is reversed: definitions 1 or 2 are usually meant (10:1).Derived terms
* masterfully * masterfulnesspractised
English
Verb
(head)practise
English
Alternative forms
* practice (standard for noun but incorrect for verb outside US; almost universal for both in American English)Verb
(practis)- You should practise playing piano every day.
- If you want to speak French well, you need to practise .
- They gather to practise religion every Saturday.
- She practised law for forty years before retiring.
- Aught but Talbot's shadow whereon to practise your severity.''
- As this advice ye practise or neglect.
- In malice to this good knight's wife, I practised Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her.
- In church they are taught to love God; after church they are practised to love their neighbour.