magistrum

Magistrum is the accusative singular form of the Latin noun magister, which means teacher, master, or supervisor. The base nominative singular is magister, with related forms such as magistro in the dative and ablative, and magistrum as the direct object. The plural forms are magistri (nominative), magistrorum (genitive), magistris (dative/ablative), and magistros (accusative). This pattern is typical of second-declension masculine nouns in Latin.

In use, magister refers to a person who guides or instructs others, most commonly a teacher or schoolmaster, but it can also denote a person in charge or a supervisor in various settings. The accusative form magistrum appears when the teacher is the object of an action, as in discipuli magistrum laudaverunt, “the students praised the teacher.”

Etymology traces magister to Latin, where it denotes a leader or person in authority over others. The word has descendants in many Romance languages, such as Italian maestro, Spanish maestro, and French maître, all of which reflect the Latin sense of a person who teaches or leads. In English, master and related terms share this lineage.

Notes and related terms: magister is the broader term for the teacher or master; magistrum is the grammatical form used in sentences where the teacher is the direct object. In medieval and ecclesiastical Latin, magister appeared in similar senses, sometimes as a title for learned men or instructors.

See also: Magister, Magistratus, Master (concept in English), Maître/Maestro (cognate terms).