Definition of magistrate

exculpate Definition: (verb) to free from blame or guilt. Petersons.com

Add Word of the Day to your personalized My Yahoo! page: About My Yahoo! and RSS »

Email this page to a friend

< magistral

magistrature >

mag·is·trate    (mj-strt, -strt) KEY  

NOUN:

A civil officer with power to administer and enforce law, as:

1. A local member of the judiciary having limited jurisdiction, especially in criminal cases.
2. A minor official, such as a justice of the peace, having administrative and limited judicial authority.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English magistrat, from Old French, from Latin magistrtus, from magister , magistr-, master; see meg- in Indo-European roots

Visit our partner's site

	Provided by Houghton Mifflin eReference -- Download this interactive reference software to your desktop computer

Search Dictionary:

More on Yahoo! Education

• Online and On-Campus Degree Programs     MBAs  -  Technology Management  -  Education  -  Health  -  More  • College & Grad School - A Comprehensive Guide     College Search  -  Test Prep  -  Application Tips  -  Scholarship Search