magnate
[mag-neyt, -nit]
- a person of great influence, importance, or standing in a particular enterprise, field of business, etc.: a railroad magnate.
- a person of eminence or distinction in any field: literary magnates.
- a member of the former upper house in either the Polish or Hungarian parliament.
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Origin of magnate
1400–50; back formation from Middle English magnates (plural) < Late Latin magnātēs leading people, equivalent to Latin magn(us) magn- + -ātēs, plural of -ās noun suffix
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
merchanttycooncapitalistmogulfinancieraristocratnoblenamefigureVIPplutocratnotablepersonagechiefbusinesspersonlionindustrialistbigwigpeerleaderExamples from the Web for magnates
Contemporary Examples
Until recently, the Hirst Spot paintings had frequently supplied the background in newspaper photographs of magnates on the go.
Historical Examples
When there were magnates in Addington, James had been a poor boy.
The PrisonerAlice Brown
These included the Prime Minister, politicians, and magnates of commerce.
The White LieWilliam Le Queux
His fall, however, benefited only the magnates of the realm.
The Swedish Revolution Under Gustavus VasaPaul Barron Watson
This filled up the cup of endurance of the magnates of the city.
German Culture Past and PresentErnest Belfort Bax
The joy of the magnates was indescribable; they sank into each other's arms with tears of joy.
The Daughter of an EmpressLouise Muhlbach
magnate
- a person of power and rank in any sphere, esp in industry
- history a great nobleman
- (formerly) a member of the upper chamber in certain European parliaments, as in Hungary
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Word Origin
C15: back formation from earlier magnates from Late Latin: great men, plural of magnās, from Latin magnus great
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for magnates
magnate
n.
mid-15c., "great man, noble, man of wealth," from Late Latin magnates, plural of magnas "great person, nobleman," from Latin magnus "great, large, big" (of size), "abundant" (of quantity), "great, considerable" (of value), "strong, powerful" (of force); of persons, "elder, aged," also, figuratively, "great, mighty, grand, important," from PIE *mag-no-, from root *meg- "great" (cf. Sanskrit maha-, mahat- "great;" Greek megas, fem. megale "great, large;" Gothic mikils, Old English micel "great, big, many;" see mickle).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper