Definition of Praetorian

1. Noun. A member of the Praetorian Guard.

Exact synonyms: Praetorian Guard
Group relationships: Praetorian Guard
Generic synonyms: Bodyguard, Escort

2. Adjective. Of or relating to a Roman praetor. "Praetorial powers"
Exact synonyms: Praetorial, Pretorial, Pretorian
Partainyms: Praetor, Praetor, Praetor, Praetor
Derivative terms: Praetor, Praetor, Praetor, Praetor, Pretor

3. Adjective. Characteristic of or similar to the corruptible soldiers in the Praetorian Guard with respect to corruption or political venality. "A large Praetorian bureaucracy filled with ambitious...and often sycophantic people makes work and makes trouble"
Exact synonyms: Pretorian
Similar to: Corrupt

Definition of Praetorian

1. Noun. A special bodyguard force used by Roman emperors. The symbol of the Praetorian Guard was the scorpion. ¹

2. Adjective. Of or pertaining to a praetor ¹

3. Adjective. Corruptly mercenary and venal ¹

4. Noun. A praetor ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Praetorian

1. [n -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Praetorian

praesidiums
praeter-
praeterist
praeterists
praeteritio
praeterition
praetermit
praetermits
praetermitted
praetermitting
praeternature
praetexta
praetor
praetores
praetorial
praetorian (current term)
praetorians
praetorium
praetors
praetorship
praetorships
praevocalic
praezygapophyses
praezygapophysis
pragma
pragmalinguist
pragmalinguistic
pragmalinguists
pragmas
pragmatic

Literary usage of Praetorian

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Roman Law in the Modern World by Charles Phineas Sherman (1922)
"CHAPTER III praetorian SERVITUDES Nature of praetorian servitudes. To the legal genius of §601 Roman praetors is due the development of certain ..."

2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"The position was one of great influence and importance ; the praetorian praefect ... Further, the praetorian praefect acquired in addition to his military ..."

3. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, Henry Hart Milman (1899)
"It appears that it was under Commodus that the praetorian Prefects obtained the province of civil jurisdiction: it extended only to Italy, ..."

4. Studies in Roman Law, with Comparative Views of the Laws of France, England by Thomas Mackenzie Mackenzie (1865)
"Next in dignity to the emperor were the praetorian pre- fects. ... The praetorian prefects were chosen at first from the equestrian order, and afterwards ..."

5. La démocratie libérale by Thomas Hodgkin, Etienne Vacherot (1896)
"For some years the great office of praetorian praetorian i • • ii -1° Prefect. Prefect was administered by r austus, to whom a large number of letters in ..."

6. Cicero: A Sketch of His Life and Works by Hannis Taylor, Mary Lillie Taylor Hunt (1916)
"praetorian edict an engine of law reform. of the law of the nations, ... 8* The praetorian law was the channel through which the jus gentium gained, ..."

7. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the by Charles George Herbermann (1913)
"Exceptions or pleas to actions, like actions themselves, were civil or praetorian; and in general were ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Praetorian on Dictionary.com!Search for Praetorian on Thesaurus.com!Search for Praetorian on Google!Search for Praetorian on Wikipedia!

Search