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A.Word.A.Day--magisterial magisterial (maj-uh-STEER-ee-uhl) adjective 1. Having the characteristics of a master or teacher; authoritative. 2. Domineering or overbearing. 3. Of or relating to a magistrate. [From Late Latin magisterialis (of authority), from magisterium, from Latin magister (master), ultimately from Indo-European root meg- (great) that's also the source of words such as magnificent, maharajah, mahatma, master, mistress, maestro, maximum, and magnify.] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus. "'Divination is a very woolly discipline', sniffs Hermione, ever ready with a magisterial put-down." Anthony Quinn; The Shadowy World of the Sorceror; The Belfast Telegraph (Northern Ireland); Jun 4, 2004. "Jaap Stam looked magisterial in the Dutch defense." Peter Berlin; Dutch Last Ones Standing in Penalty Shootout; International Herald Tribune (France); Jun 28, 2004. This week's theme: words to describe people. X-Bonus A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

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