măgistĕrĭum, ii, n. [magister], the office of a president, chief, director, superintendent, etc. (class.).
I Lit.
A In gen.: dictaturā ac magisterio equitum honorata familia, Suet. Tib. 3: morum, i. e. the censorship , Cic. Prov. Cons. 19, 46: me magisteria delectant a majoribus instituta (sc. conviviorum), the custom of having a master or president at feasts , id. Sen. 14, 46: collegii, Suet. Dom. 4: sacerdotii, id. Calig. 22: pedestre, the office of a commander of infantry , Aur. Vict. Caes. 42.—Transf., of dogs: inter se exercent etiam magisteria, the post of leader (in hunting), Plin. 8, 40, 61, § 148.—
B In partic., the office of tutor or instructor of youth, tutorship, guardianship (very rare): jam excessit mi aetas ex magisterio tuo, I have now outgrown your tutorship , Plaut. Bacch. 1, 2, 44.—
II Trop., teaching, instruction, advice : virtute id factum, et magisterio tuo, Plaut. Most. 1, 1, 32: vana, Tib. 1, 4, 84: novum, method , Cels. 5, 27, 2.