PRAETORIAN

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Praetorian mean? 

• PRAETORIAN (noun)
  The noun PRAETORIAN has 1 sense:

1. a member of the Praetorian Guard

  Familiarity information: PRAETORIAN used as a noun is very rare.

• PRAETORIAN (adjective)
  The adjective PRAETORIAN has 2 senses:

1. of or relating to a Roman praetor

2. characteristic of or similar to the corruptible soldiers in the Praetorian Guard with respect to corruption or political venality

  Familiarity information: PRAETORIAN used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRAETORIAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A member of the Praetorian Guard

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Praetorian; Praetorian Guard

Hypernyms ("Praetorian" is a kind of...):

bodyguard; escort (someone who escorts and protects a prominent person)

Holonyms ("Praetorian" is a member of...):

Praetorian Guard (the elite bodyguard of a Roman Emperor in ancient Rome)

• PRAETORIAN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to a Roman praetor

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

praetorial; praetorian; pretorial; pretorian

Context example:

praetorial powers

Pertainym:

praetor (an annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic)

Derivation:

praetor (an annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characteristic of or similar to the corruptible soldiers in the Praetorian Guard with respect to corruption or political venality

Synonyms:

Praetorian; Pretorian

Context example:

a large Praetorian bureaucracy filled with ambitious...and often sycophantic people makes work and makes trouble

Similar:

corrupt (lacking in integrity)