different between understanding vs mastery

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?nd??stand??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??nd??stænd??/
• Rhymes: -ænd??
• Hyphenation: un?der?stand?ing

Noun

understanding (countable and uncountable, plural understandings) (with of, but with for in sense of "sympathy")

1. (gerund, uncountable) The act of one that understands or comprehends; comprehension; knowledge; discernment.
2. (countable) Reason or intelligence, ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge, ability to infer.
3. (countable) Opinion, judgement or outlook.

4. (countable) An agreement of minds; harmony; something mutually understood or agreed upon.
   1. An informal contract; mutual agreement.

   2. A reconciliation of differences.

5. (uncountable) Sympathy.

Derived terms

• peace that passeth understanding

Translations

See also

• intellection

Adjective

understanding (comparative more understanding, superlative most understanding)

1. Showing compassion.
2. (dated) Knowing; skilful.

Translations

Verb

understanding

1. present participle of understand

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