adj. 1. a. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a master or teacher; authoritative: a magisterial account of the history of the English language. b. Sedately dignified in appearance or manner: "She would appear on the porch and reign over the street in magisterial beauty" (Harper Lee). 2. Dogmatic; overbearing: expounded on official protocol in magisterial tones. 3. 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 the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] mag′is·teri·al·ly adv. |
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