Legal Definitions - magister

Definition: Magister (m-jis-t-r) is a Latin term that means "more." In Roman law, it refers to a master or a superior, especially by office or position. It can also mean a teacher, particularly one who has achieved eminence in a particular field of learning.

Here are some examples of how the term is used:

• Magister ad facultates: This Latin term means "master for permissions" in Ecclesiastical law. It refers to an officer who grants dispensations, such as permission to marry or to eat meat on prohibited days.
• Magister bonorum vendendorum: This Latin term means "master for sale of goods" in Roman law. It refers to a master appointed by the creditors of an insolvent debtor to direct the sale of the debtor's entire estate at auction.
• Magister navis: This Latin term means "master of a ship" in Roman law. It refers to the master of a trading vessel. The master's trading debts, including the ship's maintenance expenses, gave rise to an actio exercitoria.

These examples illustrate how the term "magister" is used in different contexts in Roman law. It can refer to a person who has authority over others, such as a teacher or a master of a ship. It can also refer to a person who is appointed to perform a specific task, such as directing the sale of an insolvent debtor's estate.