Past tense of master; to have acquired complete knowledge or skill in a subject or activity.
From Old English 'mægister' via Old French 'maistre', ultimately from Latin 'magister' meaning 'chief, teacher'. The sense evolved from 'one who has authority' to 'one who has complete control or skill'.
The word 'master' originally referred to someone with authority over others, but its meaning beautifully shifted to emphasize expertise and skill rather than dominance. Interestingly, the same Latin root gave us both 'master' and 'magistrate', showing how knowledge and authority were historically intertwined.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.