n. [ L. praetor, for praeitor, fr. praeire to go before; prae before + ire to go. See Issue. ] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Originally the pretor was a kind of third consul; but at an early period two pretors were appointed, the first of whom (praetor urbanus) was a kind of mayor or city judge; the other (praetor peregrinus) was a judge of cases in which one or both of the parties were foreigners. Still later, the number of pretors, or judges, was further increased. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, a mayor or magistrate. [ R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pretorian. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praetorians: cf. F. prétorien. ] Of or pertaining to a pretor or magistrate; judicial; exercised by, or belonging to, a pretor; as, pretorian power or authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pretorian bands or
Pretorian guards, or
Pretorians (Rom. Hist.), the emperor's bodyguards, instituted by the Emperor Augustus in nine cohorts of 1, 000 men each. --
Pretorian gate (Rom. Antiq.), that one of the four gates in a camp which lay next the enemy. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A soldier of the pretorian guard. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. praetorium, fr. praetor. ] 1. The general's tent in a Roman camp; hence, a council of war, because held in the general's tent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The official residence of a governor of a province; hence, a place; a splendid country seat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office or dignity of a pretor. J. Warton [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To torture beforehand. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. propraetor; pro for, before + praetor a pretor. ] (Rom. Antiq.) A magistrate who, having been pretor at home, was appointed to the government of a province. [ Written also proprætor. ] [ 1913 Webster ]