different between greatness vs mastery

English

Etymology

From Middle English gretnesse, gretnes, greetnesse, from Old English gr?atnes. Equivalent to great +? -ness.

Pronunciation

• enPR: gr?t?n?s, IPA^(key): /???e?tn?s/
• Hyphenation: great?ness

Noun

greatness (countable and uncountable, plural greatnesses)

1. The state, condition, or quality of being great

   Due to the greatness of his size, he was an effective bodyguard.

   greatness of mind

   • c. 1600, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night ACt 3 Scene 4

     Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.
2. (obsolete): Pride; haughtiness.
   • 1627, Francis Bacon, New Atlantis

     It is not of pride or greatness that he cometh not aboard your ships.

Translations

See also

• magnum opus
• genius

Anagrams

• Tressange, estranges, seargents, sergeants

English

Etymology

From Old French maistrie.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?mæst??i/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m??st(?)?i/

Noun

mastery (usually uncountable, plural masteries)

1. The position or authority of a master; dominion; command; supremacy; superiority.
   • c. 1610, Sir Walter Raleigh, The Misery of Invasive War

     If divided by mountains, they will fight for the mastery of the passages of the tops.
2. Superiority in war or competition; victory; triumph; preeminence.
   • The voice of them that shout for mastery.

   • Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.

   • 1610, Ben Jonson, The Alchemist

     O, but to ha' gulled him / Had been a mastery.

3. (obsolete) Contest for superiority.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Holland to this entry?)

4. (obsolete) A masterly operation; a feat.

   • I wol doon a maistrie 'er I go.

5. (obsolete) The philosopher's stone.
6. The act or process of mastering; the state of having mastered; expertise.
   • 1663, John Tillotson, The Wisdom of being Religious

     He […] could attain to a mastery in all languages.

   • The learning and mastery of a tongue, being unpleasant in itself, should not be cumbered with other difficulties.

Related terms

• master

Translations

Anagrams

• streamy