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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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

praetorian Praetorian

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

Here is a look at five other incidents that have marred the record of the White House's praetorian guard.

From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2014

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 Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly

Besides the emperor’s residence, the complex included gardens, places of worship, quarters for the Praetorian Guard that protected the ruler and a service district for workers that overlooked the Roman Forum.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2023

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

He is seen with the Oath Keepers and the 1st Amendment Praetorian, his personal protective security detail.

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2022

It was as if she despised the noisy crowds of common folk craning past the Praetorian Guards’ leather-clad shoulders for a glimpse of her.

From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks