More words that are easy to confuse

Masterly / masterful

The adjective masterly refers to something done skillfully. Some thing that is described as masterly may be considered expertly accomplished. The word’s meaning goes back to the 1600s in English, deriving from a Latin term meaning someone who has control or authority, a director or teacher. Related words that may be familiar include grandmaster, gifted chess player; headmaster, the director of a school; magisterial, an adjective meaning done in a masterly way; master’s degree, which many TU students are working for, meaning a degree that shows mastery in a certain subject; mastermind, or a very smart person; and masterpiece, or a work that displays mastery.

The adjective masterful primarily means bossy, enjoying the power to order people around. Since around the year 1300, in English masterful has referred to someone who enjoys being a master or having the ability to command. In the past, masterly and masterful have both been used to mean skilful. The linguist Henry Watson Fowler was editor of The Pocket Oxford Dictionary, coeditor of The Concise Oxford Dictionary and The King’s English, and author of A Dictionary of Modern English Usage. Some of Dr. Fowler’s books are in the collection of the Thammasat University Library. Dr. Fowler believed that since masterly has only one meaning, to be skilful, and is always used correctly, then we should try to avoid using masterful to mean more than one thing. If we use masterful to mean skilful as well as to enjoy bossing people, then there may be confusion. As of now, writers of Thai English who use masterful when they mean masterly may not be wrong, but they have not chosen the smartest and most informed alternative. By choosing the adjective masterly when they mean skilful, they may impress readers with their fine judgment in English vocabulary.

Some usage examples:

• Masterful Garcia surges to victory. Thai Danthai Boonma and Jazz Janewattananond earn wildcards to The Open. Singapore – Masters champion Sergio Garcia shot an exquisite final round 68 to win the prestigious SMBC Singapore Open by a comfortable five strokes on Sunday.
• Anyone with a passion for food and who will be heading to Paris this month, take note: The Michelin-starred 114 Faubourg restaurant at Le Bristol Paris blows out the candles on its ninth birthday cake with a special five-course menu that demonstrates masterful seasonal gastronomy inspired by the ripe flavours of late summer and early fall.
• Maya’s latest work “Mungman yai phukhao” (“Let’s Move the Mountains”), like most of their works in fact, is not just for kids. Maya’s artistic director Santi Chitrachinda has masterfully adapted a Taoist tale about an uncle who wanted to move two mountains and was deemed stupid by his peers, and seamlessly linked it to three other tales, all of them foreign. Santi’s aim, and he’s indeed achieved it, is to teach us, children and adults alike, that it’s not impossible to move the three mountains – of greed, anger and infatuation – from our minds.
• Masterful Venus oldest Wimbledon finalist for 23 years. Venus Williams became the oldest Wimbledon finalist for 23 years on Thursday as the American star ended Johanna Konta’s history bid with a masterful 6-4, 6-2 win.
• One of the most consistently successful plays over the past 70 years is undoubtedly Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit”. Its Thai adaptation ,“Theung Pen Phi Phi Ko Huang”, staged almost 30 years ago at the Monthienthong Theatre was a mega-hit, as was the more recent New Theatre Society’s “Nang Nak: The Museum”, in which Coward’s play was masterfully blended with the “Mae Nak Phra Khanong” tale.
• The restaging of “Pichet Klunchun and Myself” was a highlight of “La Fete 2012” at Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts. Praise has been lavish. When the European Cultural Foundation awarded Bel and Pichet Princess Margriet Award for Culture in 2008, the international jury explained, “The piece consisted of a staged conversation between two professional dancer-choreographers with very little in common. This dialogue, despite its seeming simplicity, offered a brave and masterful deconstruction of cultural difference. Bel and Klunchun managed to turn a conversation between two artists into a moving and often hilarious encounter that questioned what is usually taken for granted when two cultures meet.”
• Thais know Sakuntala from King Vajiravudh’s literary work. The King, who was educated in Oxford, came across the English version of Sakuntala while he was studying there and recreated the work in Thai text with his masterly literary skill.
• And that’s quite apart from Krall’s exceptional musicianship. Her piano sings along, whispers, rocks, shouts and weeps at her fingertips. In addition, the members of the band were obviously carefully chosen to enhance her masterly performance, bringing harmony to the whole.
• “Bangkok, are you as happy as we are to be here tonight?” lead vocalist M Shadow roared as the band took the stage at 8.30pm. And to confirm that promise, the band kicked off the show with a medley of “Shepherd of Fire”, “Critical Acclaim”, “Welcome to the Family” and “Hail to the King” as two small but vigorous mosh pits started to form at the both standing sections. Most fans chose to get close and personal with the band in the standing sections, which were packed. There were gaps in the seating sections on the second and third levels but as the show continued, fans with sitting tickets got up from their seats and flocked towards the front to bang their heads in unison. “Beast and the Harlot”, a smash hit from the band’s sophomore “City of Evil” was performed next, with masterly guitar solos from rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance and lead guitarist Synyster Gates, followed by mellower tunes including “Buried Alive” and “Seize the Day”.
• William Grant & Sons, founder and owner of Glenfiddich as well as several other spirits, is one of the very few family-owned distilleries where the sixth generation of the family has already started working in the distillery. Since its establishment in Dufftown, Scotland in 1887, Glenfiddich has survived several major crises, including World War I and II as well as the Prohibition Period is the US in 1920s. Today, Glenfiddich is the world’s most awarded and best-selling single malt in the world. “It’s amazing how barley, water, yeast and time can produce a fine spirit with so many expressions and characters.” Fergusson-Stewart said. “Glenfiddich is revered for its unique Speyside character, but there are many other expressions of Glenfiddich to enjoy, thanks to masterly skills of the team at the distillery, who have made the whisky following time-honoured traditions.

(all images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)