A master of many subjects (5)
I believe the answer is:
ruler
'a master' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ruler that I've seen before include "King, president etc." , "Commander" , "King or, president, say" , "Emperor - measure" , "Measuring rod; governor" .)