[mahy-ster-sing-er, -zing-] 
| 1. | Also, mastersinger. a member of one of the guilds, chiefly of workingmen, established during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries in the principal cities of Germany, for the cultivation of poetry and music. |
| 2. | (italics ) Die [dee] , an opera (1867) by Richard Wagner. |
| mas·ter·sing·er (mās'tər-sĭng'ər) n. See Meistersinger. |
| Meis·ter·sing·er (mīs'tər-sĭng'ər) n. pl. Meistersinger or Meis·ter·sing·ers A member of one of the guilds organized in the principal cities of Germany in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries to establish competitive standards for the composition and performance of music and poetry. Also called mastersinger. [German, from Middle High German : meister, master (from Old High German meistar, from Latin magister; see master) + singer, singer (from singen, to sing, from Old High German singan; see sengwh- in Indo-European roots).] |