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praetorian

[pree-tawr-ee-uh n, -tohr-]
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adjective
  1. of or relating to a praetor.
  2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to the Praetorian Guard.
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noun
  1. a person having the rank of praetor or ex-praetor.
  2. (often initial capital letter) a soldier of the Praetorian Guard.
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Origin of praetorian

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word praetōriānus. See praetor, -ian
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

miscreant, evil, mercenary, low, degenerate, profligate, abandoned, baneful, boorish, degraded, deleterious, depraved, dissolute, flagitious, infamous, loose, monstrous, nefarious, perverse, rotten

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British Dictionary definitions for praetorian

praetorian

pretorian

adjective
  1. of or relating to a praetor
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noun
  1. a person holding praetorian rank; a praetor or ex-praetor
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Praetorian

Pretorian

adjective
  1. of or relating to the Praetorian Guard
  2. (sometimes not capital) resembling the Praetorian Guard, esp with regard to corruption
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noun
  1. 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