— magistrateship , n.
/maj"euh strayt', -strit/ , n.
1. a civil officer charged with the administration of the law.
2. a minor judicial officer, as a justice of the peace or the judge of a police court, having jurisdiction to try minor criminal cases and to conduct preliminary examinations of persons charged with serious crimes.
[ 1350-1400; ME magistrat magistratus magistracy, magistrate, equiv. to magist ( e ) r MASTER + -atus -ATE 3 ]