Magisterium

Etymology

The word "magisterium" is derived from Latin magister, which means "teacher" in ecclesiastical Latin. (It originally had a more general meaning, and could designate president, chief, director, superintendent, etc., and was only rarely a tutor or instructor of youth.^[11])

The noun magisterium refers to the office of a magister. Thus the relationship between magister and magisterium is the same as the relationship in English between "president" and "presidency".

Since the time of Pope Pius XII, the word "magisterium" has also been used to refer to the persons who hold this office.^[12]