Word Study
praetorian
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun praetorian has 1 sense
- praetorian(n = noun.person) praetorian guard - a member of the Praetorian Guard; Array is a member of praetorian guard
is a kind of bodyguard, escort
Adjective praetorian has 2 senses
- praetorian(a = adj.pert) praetorial, pretorial, pretorian - of or relating to a Roman praetor; "praetorial powers" Derived form noun praetor1
- praetorian(s = adj.all) pretorian - 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"
OXFORD DICTIONARY
praetorian, adj. & n. (US pretorian) Rom.Hist.
--adj. of or having the powers of a praetor.
--n. a man of praetorian rank.
--adj. of or having the powers of a praetor.
--n. a man of praetorian rank.
Idiom
praetorian guard the bodyguard of the Roman emperor.
Etymology
ME f. L praetorianus (as PRAETOR)
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