praenomen

American  

[pree-noh-muhn] / priˈnoʊ mən /

Or prenomen

noun

plural

praenomina, praenomens

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

Significant in this respect was his revival of the praenomen imperator, which had been neglected by the successors of Augustus.

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

Such a praenomen carries with it suggestions of a rich brogue rather than a nasal drawl.

From Writings in the United Amateur, 1915-1922 by Lovecraft, H. P. (Howard Phillips)

His person more than justified his praenomen, for Mr. Harper Freeman, Jr., was undeniably fat.

From Corporal Cameron of the North West Mounted Police; a tale of the Macleod trail by Connor, Ralph

Scholars have been divided in opinion as to whether his praenomen was Gaius or Quintus, and in the best MSS. the volume is called simply Catulli Veronensis liber.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

Roscius was a native of Solonium, a Latin town, his praenomen was Quintus; Aesopus appears to have been a freedman of the Claudia gens.

From The History of Roman Literature From the earliest period to the death of Marcus Aurelius by Cruttwell, Charles Thomas