schoolmasterly
|school-mast-er-ly|
🇺🇸
/ˈskulˌmæstərli/
🇬🇧
/ˈskuːlˌmɑːstəlɪ/
like a schoolmaster; pedantically authoritative
Etymology
'schoolmasterly' originates from 'English', specifically the word 'schoolmaster' with the suffix '-ly', where 'school' meant 'a place of learning' and 'master' meant 'teacher'.
'schoolmasterly' changed from the compound 'schoolmaster' (formed in Middle English from Old English 'scol'/'scole' for school and influences from Old French/Latin 'maistre'/'magister' for master) and acquired the adjectival suffix '-ly' to form the modern adjective 'schoolmasterly'.
Initially it meant 'in the manner of a schoolmaster' (neutral descriptive), but over time it acquired a sense of 'pedantically authoritative or overly instructive'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
resembling or characteristic of a schoolmaster; stern, pedantic, or officious in manner.
His schoolmasterly manner irritated the students.
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Adjective 2
marked by instructiveness or a correcting tone, often pointing out minor faults.
The critique was written in a schoolmasterly tone, correcting every minor error.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/10 23:11