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

The name of the month in which he was born was changed to Julius, from his praenomen, and we still retain the name.

From History of Julius Caesar by Abbott, Jacob

From the praenomen imperator is derived the term emperor, commonly used in modern times to designate Augustus and his successors.

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

Hardy also states that Decimus is a common praenomen of the plebeian gens Iunia, and suggests that Juvenal may have got his praenomen from them.

From The Student's Companion to Latin Authors by Middleton, George

No Marcus Seneca is known, though Marcus was the praenomen of both Gallio and Mela, and of Lucan.

From Post-Augustan Poetry From Seneca to Juvenal by Butler, Harold Edgeworth

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