What is the Latin word for master?

The usual Latin words for “master” are possum, artifex, compos; also lingua, ōrātiō, superō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“master” in Latin

possumbe able to, can, may; in the 3rd person singular (pote est): it may be, it is possible; to have influence or efficacy, t artifexartist, actor; craftsman, master (of a craft); mastermind, schemer composhaving mastery, control, or power over something (coupled with genitive); sharing (especially in the guilt of something)linguathe tongue; a tongue, utterance, language, speech ōrātiōspeech, discourse, language; the power of speech; manner or style of speaking superōto surmount, rise over, rise above, go over, ascend, overtop, mount; to go over, pass over, surpass, exceed, traverse; t vincōto win; to conquer, to defeat, to vanquish; to overpower domōto tame, break in; to subdue, conquer, vanquish frangōto break, shatter; to break, shatter (a promise, a treaty, someone's ideas (dreams, projects), someone's spirit); to bre comprehendōto lay hold of something on all sides; take or catch hold of, grasp, grip; to seize upon in a hostile manner, lay hold o

The English word master itself goes back to Latin magister.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

master s.

As to power, a lord, potens (with a genitive); master of one’s self, sui potens or compos: to be master of anything, PROP., aliquid in sua potestate habere: to remain master of anything, aliquid obtinere: to be master of (figuratively), imperare alicui rei; moderari alicui rei (e.g., linguae or orationi): to be master of one’s self, sibi imperare; animi potentem esse; animum suum comprimere, coercere: to be master of one’s anger, iram reprimere: to allow one’s self to be mastered by anger, ira teneri: not to be master of one’s anger, impotentem esse irae: to be master of one’s passions, cupiditatibus imperare (opposed to servire); cupiditates continere, comprimere, coercere, frenare, domare ac frangere: master of a house, pater familias or familiae herus (the former in respect of the whole family; the latter in respect of the servants; hence, in comic writers, the usual address of slaves to their master): possessor (the possessor of anything; frequently, however; opposed to dominus, the owner): the young master of the house, filius herilis, filius familiae (with the same difference as between herus and pater familias): master of the ceremonies, magister officiorum or aulae; magister admissionum (under the emperors).

As to skill, (a) general term, artifex: a master in anything, artifex (with a genitive, especially of a gerund), antistes, princeps alicujus rei; alicujus rei peritissimus (very skilful): perfectus et absolutus in aliqua re (perfect in art or science): praecipuus ad aliquid faciendum (clever in doing anything; ☞ Herzog, Quint., 10, 1, 94, p. 119 sq.): a master in his art, orator perfectus, dicendi artifex (of a speaker): pictor perfectus, pingendi artifex (of a painter): medicus arte insignis, medicina or medicinae arte clarus, medicinae vates (of a physician; the former of one in practice, the latter of one eminent for professional learning, Plin., 11, 37, 88): to be a master in anything, familiam ducere in aliqua re (e.g., in jure civili); (in) aliqua re excellere or maxime excellere (general term): eruditum esse artificio alicujus rei (to have learned the practice of an art): to be a master in the art of flattery, ad nimiam assentationem eruditum esse: Horace is a master in delineating human character, Hor. ad notandos hominum mores praecipuus: in this line there have been many masters, in eo genere multi perfecti exstiterunt: practice makes master, exercitatio artem parat (Tac., Germ., 24, 1): (b) especially the manager of a work-shop, tabernae magister (Jul., Paul., Sentent. rec.; Vid: Gesn., Thes., s. v. Magister, extr.). Hence, general term = superintendent, teacher, magister (with reference to his proficiency or superiority of knowledge): doctor (one who imparts theory): praeceptor (one who gives practical rules or instructions), (c) The author of a work of art, artifex; auctor (e.g., a statue by an unknown master, statua auctoris incerti): (d) as a title of respect, magister; Vid: Gell., 18, 7, in.

master v.

To overcome, conquer, superare; vincere; domare, frangere [SYN. in CONQUER].

To comprehend, comprehendere, complecti (with and without animo or mente); assequi. Vid: more in COMPREHEND.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for master?: The usual Latin words for “master” are possum, artifex, compos; also lingua, ōrātiō, superō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.