Both Uses of
magisterial
in
Great Expectations
- The Justices were sitting in the Town Hall near at hand, and we at once went over to have me bound apprentice to Joe in the Magisterial presence.†
Chpt 13 *
- As he imparted this melancholy circumstance to Wemmick, Mr. Jaggers standing magisterially before the fire and taking no share in the proceedings, Mike's eye happened to twinkle with a tear.†
Chpt 51
Definition:
-
(magisterial) authoritativein various senses, including:
- appearance or behavior that fits an important person -- as in "She has a magisterial manner."
- of something written in a comprehensive manner by a respected authority -- as in "a magisterial account of The Great Depression"
- relating to a government authority (or specifically to a magistrate who can administer the law) -- as in "It is within her magisterial district."
- offensively self-assured or given to exercising unwarranted power -- as in "managed the employees in an aloof magisterial way"