Māg'is-tē'ri-al, a.
a. [Lat. magisterius, magisterial, from magister, q. v.]
Sense 1. Pertaining to a master; appropriate to a master; authoritative; hence, proud; lofty; imperious; domineering.
Pretenses go a great way with men that take fair words and magisterial looks for current payment. L'Estrange.
Sense 2. (Chem.) Pertaining to magistery. See MAGISTERY.
Synonyms—Authoritative; stately; august; pompous; dignified; lofty; commanding; imperious; lordly; proud; haughty; domineering; despotic; dogmatical; arrogant.—MAGISTERIAL, DOGMATICAL, ARROGANT. One who is magisterial assumes the air of a master toward his pupils; one who is dogmatical lays down his positions in a tone of authority or dictation; one who is arrogant insults others by an undue assumption of superiority. Those who have long been teachers sometimes acquire, unconsciously, a manner which borders too much on the magisterial, and which may be unjustly construed as dogmatical, or even arrogant. “He uses a magisterial authority while he instructs him.” South. “Most critics write in a positive, dogmatic way.” Spectator. “An arrogant way of treating with others is natural to popular governments.” Sir Wm. Temple.