Defn: Of or pertaining to a pretor or magistrate; judicial; exercised by, or belonging to, a pretor; as, pretorian power or authority. Pretorian bands or 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.
PRETORIAN
Pre*to"ri*an, n.
Defn: A soldier of the pretorian guard.
PRETORIUM
Pre*to"ri*um, n. Etym: [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.
2. The official residence of a governor of a province; hence, a place; a splendid country seat.
PRETORSHIP
Pre"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or dignity of a pretor. J. Warton
PRETORTURE
Pre*tor"ture, v. t.
Defn: To torture beforehand. Fuller.