Măg'is-trāte, n.

n. [Lat. magistratus, from magister, q. v.; It. magistrato, Sp. magistrado, Pr. & Fr. magistrat.] A person clothed with power as a public civil officer; a public civil officer, invested with the executive government, or some branch of it.

The magistrate must have his reverence; the laws, their authority. Burke.

☞ This word is sometimes used with reference to the highest or first officer of a government, as the king, or the president of the United States. But it is more particularly applied to subordinate officers, as governors, intendants, prefects, mayors, aldermen, consuls, justices of the peace, and the like.