Maîtres

Maîtres, with the singular maître, is a French term that encompasses several related meanings tied to mastery, skill, and authority. Etymologically, it derives from Latin magister, passing through Old French maistre to modern French, where it can denote a teacher, a master, or an expert.

In contemporary usage, maître is commonly used as a formal title before the surname of certain professionals, most notably lawyers and notaries, in many Francophone jurisdictions. It signals respect and professional status and is often retained in legal settings and formal correspondence. The usage varies by country and institution, but it remains a recognizable honorific in professional contexts.

Historically, a maître was the master craftsman in a guild who supervised apprentices and journeymen and held the authority to certify skill and grant the right to practice the trade. In this sense, maître denotes both mastery of technique and leadership within a workshop. The master might be identified by specialized titles such as maître pâtissier or maître chocolatier in culinary arts, indicating recognized expertise.

In education, the term was used for schoolteachers in past centuries, reflecting the role of guiding learning, authority, and instruction. Although the everyday term for a teacher has shifted to professeur in modern usage, the older title remains embedded in historical references.

Other compound titles in French include maître d'hôtel (head waiter) and maître d'armes (fencing master), illustrating the broad application of maître to leaders and highly skilled practitioners in various fields. The plural maîtres refers to multiple individuals who hold such status or expertise.