surmaster
Definition
- Noun:
- Assistant headmaster: "surmaster" refers to a deputy or assistant headmaster, especially in a British public school (such as St. Paul's School). The role involves supporting the headmaster in administrative and disciplinary duties.
Usage Examples
- (The assistant headmaster handled order in the upper school.)
- (The deputy headmaster assumed the headmaster's responsibilities.)
Advanced Usage
"to act as surmaster": to serve in the capacity of an assistant headmaster.
- He was appointed to act as surmaster during the headmaster's sabbatical. (He temporarily held the assistant headmaster role.)
"surmaster's office": the administrative office associated with the assistant headmaster.
- The students reported to the surmaster's office for their disciplinary meeting. (The students went to the assistant headmaster's administrative area.)
Variants and Related Words
Master (n): a male teacher or head of a school.
- The master of the college gave a speech. (The head of the college spoke.)
Headmaster (n): the principal or leading teacher of a school.
- The headmaster announced the new school policies. (The principal shared new rules.)
Submaster (n): an alternative term for an assistant master or deputy head.
- The submaster coordinated the curriculum changes. (The deputy head managed educational adjustments.)
Synonyms
- Deputy head: a person who acts as second-in-command to the head of a school.
- Assistant principal: a school administrator who supports the principal (common in US schools).
- Vice-principal: similar to assistant principal, often used in secondary schools.
Related Idioms
Second in command: a person who is next in authority to the leader.
- As surmaster, he was second in command at the school. (He was the next highest authority after the headmaster.)
Right-hand man: a trusted assistant or deputy.
- The headmaster relied on the surmaster as his right-hand man. (The headmaster depended on the assistant headmaster for support.)