— magnateship , n.
/mag"nayt, -nit/ , n.
1. a person of great influence, importance, or standing in a particular enterprise, field of business, etc.: a railroad magnate.
2. a person of eminence or distinction in any field: literary magnates.
3. a member of the former upper house in either the Polish or Hungarian parliament.
[ 1400-50; back formation from ME magnates (pl.) magnates leading people, equiv. to L magn ( us ) MAGN- + -ates, pl. of -as n. suffix ]