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Webster 1913 Edition

Magistrate

Mag′is-trate

,
Noun.
[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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Magistrate

MAG'ISTRATE

,
Noun.
[L. magistratus, from magister, master; magis, major, and ster, Teutonic steora, a director; steoran, to steer; the principal director.] A public civil officer, invested with the executive government of some branch of it. In this sense, a king is the highest or first magistrate, as is the President of the United States. But the word is more particularly applied to subordinate officers, as governors, intendants, prefects, mayors, justices of the peace, and the like.
The magistrate must have his reverence; the laws their authority.

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