Word meanings

 The first record of this word was 1297, first appearing in R. Gloucester’s Chron. This word comes from France and has been mainly associated with men as it includes the word knight which is usually a man. The primary meaning has changed over time as the word ‘bachelor’ first meant a young knight not old enough to display his own banner, however nowadays a bachelor is known as someone who has a degree in a certain course/subject – e.g. Bachelor of Arts. The meaning has become more positive. The spelling of the word has stayed the same and this word exists only as a noun. The dictionary definition does match my understanding of the word as I thought it was someone who has got a degree.

                                                                                     
The OED first recorded the appearance of this word in printed text in 1886 appearing in Sir Tristrem. This word comes from France and at first it was associated with women, however in time it has been associated with a man. So it hasn’t always been gender specific. The primary of this word has changed as at first it was known as a woman having control or authority and then over time it has meant an unmarried man, a size of roofing slate and the wife of a member of a community – as a farmer, minister etc. The spelling of the word hasn’t changed at all and this word exists as a noun, adjective and verb. This implies that it can be used in several ways – as an object, describing word and doing word. The dictionary definition matches my understanding of the word as I thought it was someone who is in control and head of a household.                                                         

 The OED first recorded the appearance of the word in 1134 in Gower Confessio Amantis. The word master comes from Latin and has always been associated with a male; however in the latter half of the 20^th century it extended to include women. The primary meaning of this word hasn’t really changed although it means different things. The main meaning of this word is that is a male who is in control or head of a household. The spelling of the word hasn’t changed at all and exists as an adjective noun and verb. So like the word mistress this word can be used in several ways – as an object, describing word and doing word. The dictionary definition does match my understanding of the word as I thought it was a male and someone incharge of the household.