Magistrate \Mag"is*trate\, n. [L. magistratus, fr. magister
master: cf. F. magistrat. See Master.]
A person clothed with power as a public civil officer; a
public civil officer invested with the executive government,
or some branch of it. ``All Christian rulers and
magistrates.'' --Book of Com. Prayer.
Of magistrates some also are supreme, in whom the
sovereign power of the state resides; others are
subordinate. --Blackstone.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) |