praetorian
[pree-tawr-ee-uh n, -tohr-]
- of or relating to a praetor.
- (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to the Praetorian Guard.
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- a person having the rank of praetor or ex-praetor.
- (often initial capital letter) a soldier of the Praetorian Guard.
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Origin of praetorian
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for praetorian
Contemporary Examples
Abdullah has spent his life building this Praetorian elite force.
Historical Examples
But the praetorian guard, faithful to me, was unable to make headway.
"Unto Caesar"Baroness Emmuska Orczy
On the threshold he was met by Martialis, the praetorian centurion.
A Thorny Path [Per Aspera], CompleteGeorg Ebers
But while they deliberated, the praetorian guards had resolved.
The Praetorian guards were attached to the youth of Alexander.
They, with the Praetorian cavalry, formed the imperial guard and body-guard.
Quintus Claudius, Volume 1 of 2Ernst Eckstein
praetorian
pretorian
- of or relating to a praetor
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- a person holding praetorian rank; a praetor or ex-praetor
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Praetorian
Pretorian
- of or relating to the Praetorian Guard
- (sometimes not capital) resembling the Praetorian Guard, esp with regard to corruption
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- a member of the Praetorian Guard
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for praetorian
Praetorian
adj.
early 15c., from Latin praetorianus "belonging to a praetor," from praetor (see praetor). Praetorian Guard is from cohors praetoria, the bodyguard troop of a Roman commander or emperor. Hence modern figurative use for "defenders of an existing order."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper