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magisterial definition

Magisterial

5 dictionary results for: Magisterial

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

mag·is·te·ri·al

[maj-uh-steer-ee-uh

l] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	of, pertaining to, or befitting a master; authoritative; weighty; of importance or consequence: a magisterial pronouncement by the director of the board.

2.	imperious; domineering: a magisterial tone of command.

3.	of or befitting a magistrate or the office of a magistrate: The judge spoke with magisterial gravity.

4.	of the rank of a magistrate: magisterial standing.

[Origin: 1625–35; < LL magisteriālis; see magisterium, -al¹

]

—Related forms

mag·is·te·ri·al·ly, adverb

mag·is·te·ri·al·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

mag·is·te·ri·al (māj'ĭ-stîr'ē-əl) Pronunciation Key
adj.

1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a master or teacher; authoritative: a magisterial account of the history of the English language.
2. Sedately dignified in appearance or manner: "She would appear on the porch and reign over the street in magisterial beauty" (Harper Lee).
Dogmatic; overbearing: expounded on official protocol in magisterial tones.
Of or relating to a magistrate or a magistrate's official functions.

[Late Latin magisteriālis, from magisterius, from Latin magister, master, teacher; see meg- in Indo-European roots.]

mag'is·te'ri·al·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

magisterial
adjective
1.	of or relating to a magistrate; "official magisterial functions"
2.	offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power; "an autocratic person"; "autocratic behavior"; "a bossy way of ordering others around"; "a rather aggressive and dominating character"; "managed the employees in an aloof magisterial way"; "a swaggering peremptory manner" [syn: autocratic]
3.	used of a person's appearance or behavior; befitting an eminent person; "his distinguished bearing"; "the monarch's imposing presence"; "she reigned in magisterial beauty" [syn: distinguished]

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Magisterial

Ar"ro*gant\, a. [F. arrogant, L. arrogans, p. pr. of arrogare. See Arrogate.]

1. Making, or having the disposition to make, exorbitant claims of rank or estimation; giving one's self an undue degree of importance; assuming; haughty; -- applied to persons.

Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate. --Shak.

2. Containing arrogance; marked with arrogance; proceeding from undue claims or self-importance; -- applied to things; as, arrogant pretensions or behavior.

Syn: Magisterial; lordly; proud; assuming; overbearing; presumptuous; haughty. See Magisterial.

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