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• praetorian
  praetorian

  adjective

  of or relating to a praetor.
• Praetorian
  Praetorian

  adjective

  of or relating to the Praetorian Guard

praetorian

American  

[pree-tawr-ee-uhn, -tohr-] / priˈtɔr i ən, -ˈtoʊr- /

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.

Praetorian ¹ British  

/ priːˈtɔːrɪən /

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

praetorian ² British  

/ priːˈtɔːrɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to a praetor

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noun

1. a person holding praetorian rank; a praetor or ex-praetor

Etymology

Origin of praetorian

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word praetōriānus. See praetor, -ian

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

praetorian Praetorian

Bashir had empowered Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, to run the RSF as a praetorian guard to protect him against possible challenges from within the army.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

Dictators obviously maintain unilateral control of their militaries, employed as they invariably are as praetorian protectors and coercive extensions of their autocratic overlords.

From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2023

Key aspects of the effort to achieve legitimacy were thus more praetorian or Bonapartist than fascist.

From Slate ● Feb. 9, 2017

After the deaths of two brothers, Mr. Assad has only one left — Maher al-Assad, the chief of the elite praetorian guards charged with protecting the family.

From New York Times ● Jul. 19, 2012

These household troops were the scholarians, organized by Constantine I when he disbanded the praetorian guards who had upheld the cause of Maxentius.

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

Wagner's greatest military success is probably acting as a Praetorian guard for the presidency and foiling a military coup in CAR's capital, Bangui.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2023

She was the sister of the emperor Caligula and the niece of his successor Claudius, who became emperor after Caligula was murdered by his own Praetorian Guard in C.E.

From Scientific American ● Aug. 9, 2023

In the end, the elite Praetorian Guard auctioned off the emperorship to the highest bidder.

From Salon ● Jan. 31, 2023

Cannell holds 8.2% of Lee’s stock and Praetorian owns 7.3%.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 24, 2022

The son of a senator, perhaps, or an officer in the Praetorian Guard.

From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks

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