magisterial

[ maj-uh-steer-ee-uhl ]

/ ˌmædʒ əˈstɪər i əl /

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See synonyms for magisterial on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

imperious; domineering: a magisterial tone of command.

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

of the rank of a magistrate: magisterial standing.

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Origin of magisterial

First recorded in 1625–35; from Late Latin magisteriālis “pertaining to a teacher or magistrate” (equivalent to Latin magister “magistrate, teacher, master” + -ālis ); see origin at master, -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM magisterial

mag·is·te·ri·al·ly, adverbmag·is·te·ri·al·ness, nounun·mag·is·te·ri·al, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH magisterial

magisterial , magistrate, majestic

Words nearby magisterial

magic wand, magilp, Magindanao, Maginot, Maginot line, magisterial, magisterium, magistery, magistracy, magistral, magistral line

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use magisterial in a sentence

Elba is always magisterial, and for years now, his fans have been floating his name as a candidate for the next James Bond.
Idris Elba Brings a Regal Urban Cowboy to Life in Concrete Cowboy|Stephanie Zacharek|April 2, 2021|Time
Called “The Sword and Sovereignty,” it is a magisterial work running to more than 2,000 pages.
‘A Ghastly Waste of Time?’ Considering the Constitution|Seth Lipsky|January 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He lacks the magisterial tone of Colm Tóibín or the florid and fertile imagination of Patrick McCabe.
Great Irish Adventures|Allen Barra|June 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
It is a picture of tragic grandeur, painted in sombre and magisterial colours on the fiery vault of hell.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier

Old Lecamus maintained his paternal and magisterial dignity; he observed his son and said little.
Catherine de' Medici|Honore de Balzac
During the difficult beginnings of a household I, perhaps, assumed a magisterial tone?
Honorine|Honore de Balzac
Relinquishing his magisterial powers, necessity compelled him to return home before spring, accompanied by some of his people.
William Bradford of Plymouth|Albert Hale Plumb
Such was the man entrusted with more than magisterial power.
The History of Tasmania , Volume II (of 2)|John West

British Dictionary definitions for magisterial

magisterial

/ (ˌmædʒɪˈstɪərɪəl) /

adjective

commanding; authoritative

domineering; dictatorial

of or relating to a teacher or person of similar status

of or relating to a magistrate

Derived forms of magisterial

magisterially, adverbmagisterialness, noun

Word Origin for magisterial

C17: from Late Latin magisteriālis, from magister master

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

magisterial

Origin of magisterial

OTHER WORDS FROM magisterial

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH magisterial

Words nearby magisterial

Words related to magisterial

How to use magisterial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for magisterial

Derived forms of magisterial

Word Origin for magisterial