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Definition of pretor - 5 dictionary results

pre⋅tor

  [pree-ter]
Use pretor in a Sentence
–noun
praetor.

prae⋅tor

  [pree-ter]
–noun
(in the ancient Roman republic) one of a number of elected magistrates charged chiefly with the administration of civil justice and ranking next below a consul.
Also, pretor.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME pretor < L praetor, for *praeitor leader, lit., one going before, equiv. to *praei-, var. s. of praeīre to go before, lead (prae- prae- + -i-, base of īre to go) + -tor -tor

Related forms:
prae⋅to⋅ri⋅al  [pree-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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prae·tor also pre·tor   (prē'tər)   
n.  An annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic, ranking below but having approximately the same functions as a consul.

[Middle English pretor, from Old French, from Latin praetor, perhaps from praeīre, to go before : prae-, pre- + īre, to go; see ei- in Indo-European roots.]
prae·to'ri·al (prē-tôr'ē-əl, -tōr'-) adj., prae'tor·ship' n.
pre·tor   (prē'tər)   
n.  Variant of praetor.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

praetor 
magistrate in ancient Rome (next in rant to consuls), c.1425, from L. prætor "one who goes before, a consul as leader of an army," from præ- "before" + root of ire "to go." Praetorian Guard is from cohors prætoria, the bodyguard troop of a Roman commander or emperor.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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