magistrate

The definition of a magistrate is a civil or lay judge or other official who is responsible for administering and enforcing the laws, usually by holding hearings on minor offenses.

(noun)

A judge that hears traffic ticket cases and fines people is an example of a magistrate.

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See magistrate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a civil officer empowered to administer the law: the President of the U.S. is sometimes called chief magistrate
  2. a minor official with limited judicial powers, as a justice of the peace or judge of a police court

Origin: ME < L magistratus < magister, master

Related Forms:

See magistrate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
A civil officer with power to administer and enforce law, as:
a. A local member of the judiciary having limited jurisdiction, especially in criminal cases.
b. A minor official, such as a justice of the peace, having administrative and limited judicial authority.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English magistrat

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin magistrātus

Origin: , from magister, magistr-, master; see meg- in Indo-European roots

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