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# magistrate

noun (a magistrate, magistrates)

«magistrate» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (law) An official who acts as a judge in a local court, dealing with less serious crimes and some family or local matters. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#m1)
2. (UK) A volunteer from the community, also called a Justice of the Peace (JP), who hears cases in a magistrates' court. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#m2)
3. (history) In old Rome and other places, a person who held public power, like a mayor or governor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#m3)

### In the lessons

In citizenship lessons, magistrates are part of the justice system: in England and Wales most criminal cases start in a magistrates' court; in Australia and New Zealand magistrates also run local courts. Magistrates decide if someone is guilty of minor crimes and give punishments like fines. Phrases: «magistrates' court», «appear before a magistrate», «the magistrate fined him».

### Examples

- The man had to appear before a magistrate for speeding. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x1)
- Magistrates in England are usually volunteers, not paid lawyers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x2)
- The magistrate fined her for dropping litter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x3)
- Most criminal cases start in the magistrates' court. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x4)
- Our neighbour is a magistrate and sits in court twice a month. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x5)
- The magistrate listened to both sides before deciding. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x6)
- In ancient Rome, magistrates ran the city. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x7)
- A magistrate can send serious cases to a higher court. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x8)
- Then the magistrate, pointing to Pinocchio, said in a very solemn voice: [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/#x9)

### Note

Countable: one magistrate, two magistrates. «Magistrates' court» has the apostrophe after the s. A magistrate is not always a trained lawyer (in the UK many are volunteers). Not the same as a «judge», who deals with bigger cases. Not a maths word.

## In Jewish tradition

In Isaiah it means a ruler or governor of the people. It is a picture of what the leaders will be like in a future time.

**Interpretation.** Isaiah promises that peace and righteousness themselves will rule the people. Tradition reads this as a vision of an age of justice, often linked to the time of redemption.

### Examples

- For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron; I will also make thy officers peace, and righteousness thy magistrates. (Prophets ISA.60.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/magistrate/#x1)

### Note

Countable: one magistrate, two magistrates. «Magistrates' court» has the apostrophe after the s. A magistrate is not always a trained lawyer (in the UK many are volunteers). Not the same as a «judge», who deals with bigger cases. Not a maths word.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «magistrate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/magistrate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«magistrate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/magistrate.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «magistrate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/magistrate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«magistrate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/magistrate.html) on Mova free.