magisterial

[maj-uh-steer-ee-uh l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR magisterial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or befitting a master; authoritative; weighty; of importance or consequence: 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.

Origin of magisterial

1625–35; < Late Latin magisteriālis; see magisterium, -al¹

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

Can be confusedmagisterial magistrate majestic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for magisterial

authoritative, autocratic, domineering, egotistic, imperious, masterful, pompous, arrogant, august, bossy, dictatorial, dignified, dogmatic, judicial, lofty, lordly, overbearing, stately, stuffy

Examples from the Web for magisterial

Contemporary Examples of magisterial

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
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

Historical Examples of magisterial

A magisterial study it was, which not one of our "young masters" could paint.
His Masterpiece
Emile Zola
Such was the man entrusted with more than magisterial power.
The History of Tasmania , Volume II (of 2)
John West
I have had the magisterial account already, and now wish to have yours.
Dulcibel
Henry Peterson
"Then I am more learned than they are," said l'Encuerado, with a magisterial air.
Adventures of a Young Naturalist
Lucien Biart
It was in this magisterial attitude that he began the examination.
Notre-Dame de Paris
Victor Hugo

British Dictionary definitions for magisterial

magisterial

adjective

commanding; authoritative

domineering; dictatorial

of or relating to a teacher or person of similar status

of or relating to a magistrate

Derived Formsmagisterially, 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

Word Origin and History for magisterial

adj.

1630s, from Medieval Latin magisterialis "of or pertaining to the office of magistrate, director, or teacher," from Late Latin magisterius "having authority of a magistrate," from magister "chief, director" (see master (n.)). Related: Magisterially.