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pretorian

 - 3 dictionary results
prae·to·ri·an also pre·to·ri·an   (prē-tôr'ē-ən, -tōr'-)   
adj.  

  1. Of or relating to a praetor or the praetorship.

  2. Praetorian Of or belonging to the Praetorian Guard.

  3. Venal; corruptible: "A large praetorian bureaucracy, filled with ambitious, possessive . . . and often sycophantic people, makes work and makes trouble" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.)

n.  

  1. A praetor or ex-praetor.

  2. Praetorian A member of the Praetorian Guard.

pre·to·ri·an   (prē-tôr'ē-ən, -tōr'-)   
adj.  Variant of praetorian.
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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pretorian

adjective
1. of or relating to a Roman praetor; "praetorial powers" [syn: praetorian] 
2. 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"- Arthur M.Schlesinger Jr. [syn: Praetorian] 
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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