praenomen

American  

[pree-noh-muhn] / priˈnoʊ mən /

Or prenomen

noun

praenomina, plural praenomens plural

1. the first or personal name of a Roman citizen, as “Gaius” in “Gaius Julius Caesar.”

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praenomen British  

/ priːˈnəʊmɛn, priːˈnɒmɪnəl /

noun

1. an ancient Roman's first or given name See also agnomen cognomen nomen

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Other Word Forms

• praenominal
  adjective
• praenominally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of praenomen

1655–65; < Latin praenōmen, equivalent to prae- prae- + nōmen name

Example Sentences

Home came Richard in the wake of Miss Linley, who rejoiced in the unromantic praenomen of 'Betsy,' to her angry parent, and found matters had been running high in his short absence.

From The Wits and Beaux of Society Volume 2 by Wharton, Philip

Scipio is his praenomen, bestowed on him by me to match the cognomen his already by nature--Africanus, to wit.

From In Clive's Command A Story of the Fight for India by Strang, Herbert

There is a gentleman of the same name--I chanced to meet him in London--cultivating literature in the Temple; his praenomen, I bethink me, is Edmund.

From In Clive's Command A Story of the Fight for India by Strang, Herbert

From this time the praenomen Imperator was a prerogative of the Roman commander-in-chief.

From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly

As an abbreviation it is used in Latin for the praenomen Decimus, and under the empire for the title Divus of certain deceased emperors.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various