The problem here is and always will be that there is a continuum,largely without obvious boundaries, between (and in no particular order, well sort of,) Master/Mistress, Dom/me, Top, S/switch, bottom, sub, and slave.

Where each lies in describing a portion of that continuum and where the boundaries between them are is a matter of unending debate. No one will ever be totally happy with another's definitions unless they happen to fall exactly within the same boundaries.

Russell, I was certainly one of the naysayers back then... your definitions left me out. Yet we agree on so many other things.

delia, to say a slave is owned but a sub is not... somehow leaves out a host of subs I've talked to... including my own.

Language is too pliable. "Bird" You know exactly what I mean... certainly a horse is not a bird... nor is a snake... You know it has feathers, two legs and two wings. But birds lay eggs like (most) snakes. But birds are warm blooded like (most?) mammals. And what is a platypus?

I think trying to define and describe roles with single words will never entirely work within the lifestyle. The moment you do... the exceptions will overwhelm you.