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mag·is·tral

(măjĭ-strəl)

adj.

1. Of or relating to a magistrate; magisterial.

2. Prepared as specified by a physician's prescription. Used of medicine.

3. Principal; main: the magistral line of fortifications.

[Late Latin magistrālis, belonging to a master, from Latin magister, magistr-, former chief officer of a college; see meg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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