Magisterial
/ˌmædʒɪˈstɪəriəl/noun
Relating to a magistrate or authoritative in manner; commanding and self-assured.
Did you know?Magisterial comes from Latin *magister* (“master, teacher”), a word built from *magis* (“more”), so its oldest sense is basically “the one who is more.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mag-
“to be great, to be powerful”
Latin
Latin
magis
“more”
Latin
Latin
magister
“master, teacher, chief, director”
Late Latin
Latin
magistralis
“of a master or official”
Middle English
English
magistral
“authoritative; of a magistrate”
Modern English
English
magisterial
“authoritative, dignified, or relating to a magistrate”