praetorianadj.n.
/prᵻˈtɔːrɪən/, /priːˈtɔːrɪən/, /prʌɪˈtɔːrɪən/, U.S. /prəˈtɔriən/ A. adj.
1.
a. Roman History. Of, belonging to, or relating to the guards of the commander or praetor of the army and subsequently (from the reign of Augustus) of the emperor. See also Praetorian Guard n.
ΚΠ
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1874) V. 115 (MED) The knyȝhtes pretorian [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. knyȝtes of þe pretorie; L. prætoriani milites] of Rome namede Maxentius, the son of Maximian, emperour.
1565 A. Golding tr. Caesar Martiall Exploytes in Gallia i. f. 34 Wheras he had promised but to accept the tenth Legion in place of the pretorian Cohort [L. cohortis praetoriae], he had promoted them to be men of armes.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie ii. iii. 74 The Pretorian legions..began to become rulers ouer their maisters.
1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 105 Hee ordained a standing Campe at Rome, wherein the Prætorian Cohorts [L. praetorianae cohortes]..might be received.
1670 S. Wilson Lassels's Voy. Italy (new ed.) ii. 96 The ruines of the Pretorium, the Quarters of the Pretorian Bands, which the Emperours lodged here.
1764 R. Adam Ruins Palace Diocletian at Spalatro 6 It was capable of lodging a pretorian cohort.
1868 J. B. Lightfoot Epist. Philippians (1873) 99 The great camp of the praetorian soldiers.
1877 G. P. Fisher Beginnings Christianity xvi. 522 Among the Prætorian regiments, from which his guards..were drawn..he won converts to the Christian faith.
1910 A. L. Frothingham Dalmatia 215 I was led to attribute to some unknown and destroyed arch the sculptured frieze of arms and armor..in the museum, and perhaps also a fine fragment of a praetorian soldier and a horse.
1992 Daily Tel. Apr. 22 In his much-quoted anti-Europe speech last weekend Mr Powell referred to the Praetorian soldiers who ‘murdered Nero’.
b. Of or belonging to a group having aims or functions resembling those of the Praetorian Guard; militaristic; involved in or characteristic of the military enforcement of state power.
ΚΠ
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey I. 75 The Pretorian footmen called the Solacchi, whereof there be in number three hundred.
1641 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. Concl. 61 He should need no other pretorian band nor pensionry then these, if they could once with their perfidious preachments aw the people.
1814 T. Jefferson Let. 28 Nov. in Writings (1984) 1359 I doubt if the tranquillity of France is entirely settled. If her Pretorian bands are not furnished with employment on her external enemies, I fear [etc.].
1907 Spectator 5 Jan. 5/2 The calling into existence of a Pretorian band of pauper labour through doles for the encouragement of the unemployed.
1979 Bull. Amer. Acad. Arts & Sci. Mar. 32 Praetorian regimes in which scientists are allowed to make such ‘unimportant’ decisions provide some of the best examples of national planning..in the generation and application of knowledge.
2005 Weekend Austral. (Nexis) 5 Feb. 17 President Bashar Al-Assad has..begun a partial withdrawal of Syria's praetorian military force from neighbouring Lebanon.
c. Of or belonging to a soldier or soldiers of the Praetorian Guard.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warriors collectively > lifeguard or bodyguard > [adjective] > specific bodyguard
praetorian1622
1622 J. Reynolds tr. E. de Refuge Treat. Court ii. xxi. 105 He tripps away to the Pretorian Camp, to make good, and containe them in their duties.
1712 M. Bladen tr. Caesar Comm. Wars in Gaul (ed. 2) iii. xxix. 312 Having Receiv'd both Armies into one Camp, he divided his Command with Scipio, ordering a Praetorian Tent to be erected for him.
a1771 T. Gray Agrippina in Poems (1775) 132 The eye of Rome And the Praetorian camp.
1812 Gen. Hist. in Ann. Reg. 60/1 To raise a military depot in such a city as London, a sort of pretorian camp that could not but be grating to the feelings of the people.
1821 Ld. Byron Jrnl. 18 Feb. in Lett. & Jrnls. (1978) VIII. 47 I reckon the times of Caesar (Julius) free; because the commotions left every body a side to take... But, afterwards, it was all praetorian and legionary business.
1884 P. B. Watson Marcus Aurelius Antoninus iv. 171 He delivered an oration before the soldiers in the prætorian camp.
1953 B. Orchard Catholic Comm. Holy Script. 832 The prisoner became well-known throughout the whole Pretorian camp.
2005 Observer (Nexis) 31 July (Review section) 11 Clad in praetorian armour, William Houston [as Sejanus] is the show's star.
2. † b. Designating a judge, court, or power analogous to that of the ancient Roman praetor, esp. a Court of Equity. Obsolete.
a. Roman History. Of, belonging to, or relating to a praetor, or to the office or rank of praetor.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > holder of office > Roman magistrates and officials > [adjective] > praetor
praetoralc1550
praetorial1579
praetorian1598
praetorical1639
1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus Annales xii. v. 161 The Consularie ornaments were giuen to Colo; and the Pretorian [L. praetoria (insignia)] to Aquila.
1641 R. Brathwait Astraea's Teares sig. H4 Those who..Weare their Prætorian Scarlet till't wax old, And value Justice more then Ophir-gold.
1724 J. Henley et al. tr. Pliny the Younger Epist. & Panegyrick I. iv. xv. 186 It will be an Honour to you to have a Quæstor, whose Father is of Prætorian Rank; and whose near Relations are Consular Men.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xviii. 124 Treves, the seat of Prætorian government, gave the signal of revolt, by shutting her gates against Decentius.
1846 C. Dickens Pictures from Italy 237 Capua..is..hardly so seductive to a traveller now, as the soldiers of Prætorian Rome were wont to find the ancient city of that name.
1875 E. Poste tr. Gaius Institutionum Iuris Civilis (ed. 2) i. §184 Another guardian..called a praetorian guardian, because he was appointed by the praetor of the city.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 259/2 Three praefecti aerarii militaris..appointed by..the emperor, from senators of praetorian rank, for three years.
1998 J. F. Gardner Family & Familia in Rom. Law & Life i. 19 The children emancipated..had to wait until the first century bc, when praetorian modification of the civil law rules..allowed them some right of inheritance from their fathers.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal power > [adjective] > type of legal power or authority
concurrent?1530
arbitrary1581
praetorian1622
habitual1656
praetoriala1688
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 64 In the distribution of Courts of Ordinarie Justice,..the Chancery [had] the Pretorian power for mitigating the Rigour of Law.
1677 W. Hubbard Narrative (1865) I. 17 An Historian being no Pretorian Judg, his Reports cannot prejudice any peoples Jurisdiction, or persons Propriety.
1686 W. Sherlock Papist not Misrepresented 14 Attributing a Judicial and Praetorian Authority..to the Priest to forgive Sins.
a1710 R. Atkyns Parl. & Polit. Tracts (1734) 237 Let not (says he) Prætorian Courts (speaking of Courts of Equity) have Power to decree against express Statutes, under Pretence of Equity.
1792 B. Hill Observ. & Remarks Sicily & Calabria 30 The pretorian court..consists of three judges, citizens of Palermo, who are chosen anually by the king.
B. n.
1.
a. Roman History. A soldier of the Praetorian Guard.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > lifeguard or bodyguard > [noun] > specific
Yeoman of the Guard1485
solak1520
janissary1529
Mameluke1531
praetorian1592
trabant1617
beefeater1671
bostangi1686
mousquetaire1706
drabant1707
protector1781
Varangian1788
Papal Zouave1864
greenfinch1865
1592 R. Johnson Nine Worthies London A3v The Praetorians..in the election of a new Emperour, more esteemed the money of Iulianus, then either the vertue of Seuerus, or the Valour of Pessennius.
1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 122/1 The cohort, or band of Souldiers, which were of the Princes Guard, were called Prætorians.
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis iii. iv. 163 Whom you haue..appointed in time of peace for Garison souldiers or Pretorians.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. v. 108 These assertions..became unanswerable, when the fierce Prætorians increased their weight, by throwing..their swords into the scale.
1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick cviii. 524 I could have given bid for bid with the wealthiest Prætorians at the auction of the Roman empire.
1898 H. C. G. Moule Colossian Stud. vi. 120 It must have made the Praetorian wonder to see this extraordinary prisoner [St Paul] at his prayers.
1937 Oxf. Compan. Classical Lit. 344/2 The Praetorians received 500 denarii a year, raised to 720 by Domitian.
1999 Philadelphia Inquirer (Nexis) 19 Nov. (Features) 43 Thousands of figures will be on display, from ancient Athenian and Spartan infantrymen to Roman praetorians.
b. A member of a military force involved in enforcing state power; a member of a group or class that seeks to defend an established power or system.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > groups or attitudes right to left > [noun] > the right > adherent of
praetorian1647
illiberal1818
rightist1894
right-winger1920
fascist1921
righty1961
establishmentarian1962
New Rightist1977
neo-con1979
1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 50 The rule and reason will bee found all one, say Schoolemen and Pretorians what they will.
1789 J. Gillies View Reign Frederick II. of Prussia v. 359 The Ismailof and Preobrazinsky guards, those licentious and haughty pretorians.
1829 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. 2nd Ser. II. vii. 338 [W. Penn] Neither would christianity have done it..without her purple and pretorians.
1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby I. ii. i. 162 A factitious aristocracy, ever fearful that they might be called upon to re-gorge their sacrilegious spoil... These became the unconscious Prætorians of their ill-gotten domains.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 2 Apr. 7/3 Sultan's Pretorians disbanded.
1966 Times 15 Mar. 8/3 Some of these Praetorians [sc. Indonesian military commanders], who had become intensely unpopular, had been disarmed and returned to other army units.
2005 LA Weekly (Nexis) 13 May 17 It's become standard practice by the praetorians of P.C. to pillory anyone who says something offensive or off-color.
2. Roman History. A man of the office or rank of praetor. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > holder of office > Roman magistrates and officials > [noun] > praetor > man of praetorian rank
praetorya1387
praetorian1641
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > governors by country > [noun] > ancient Roman > propraetor
propraetor1579
lieutenant-praetor1619
praetorian1641
1641 R. Brathwait Astraea's Teares sig. D3v Portia besought That those [who] spoke ill of Cato should be brought Before th' Prætorian, to confesse their crime.
1756 C. Smart tr. Horace Satires ii. ii, in tr. Horace Wks. (1826) II. 99 The prætorian Sempronius.
1850 ‘S. Yendys’ Roman v. 64 Those proud prætorians who subverted the commonwealth of God.
1851 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire III. xxxii. 508 The provinces which remained under the control of the senate continued to be assigned by lot to consulars and prætorians.
1929 L. Homo Rom. Polit. Inst. iv. 316 The governors of Senatorial provinces were drawn from the Senate and were of various ranks. Those of Asia and Africa were Consulars and those of the eight other provinces Prætorians.
1995 S. Mitchell Anatolia Land, Men, & Gods in Asia Minor I. ii. 63 The presence of praetorians as well as consulars in the early sequence of governors..reflects a system of administration that was still fluid.
Compounds
Praetorian Prefect n. [after classical Latin praefectus praetorii] Roman History the commander of the Praetorian Guard; the governor of any of the four divisions of the Roman Empire.
ΚΠ
1623 W. Traheron & E. Grimeston tr. P. Mexia Imperiall Hist. 79 Cornelius Lacus..whom he made Pretorian Prefect, which was the greatest dignitie and authoritie next to the Emperours.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. vi. 138 The death of Papinian, the Prætorian præfect, was lamented as a public calamity.
1887 Dict. National Biogr. IX. 35/2 Two squadrons, one..at Boulogne, the other, at the mouth of the Seine, under the command of the prætorian præfect, Asclepiodotus.
1937 Oxf. Compan. Classical Lit. 344/1 Thus we find that the father of St. Ambrose..was Praetorian Prefect of the Gauls.
2004 Hist. Today Feb. 2 It was the job of Materno Cinegio, Praetorian Prefect, to implement the religious policy of the now Christian Roman empire.
Praetorian prefecture n. Roman History the jurisdiction of the Praetorian Prefect.
ΚΠ
1611 G. Downame Def. Serm. Consecr. Bishop of Bath v. 131 The prouinces belonging to that pretorian prefecture, that the B. of Alexandria should haue the gouernment of Egypt, Lybia and Pentapolis.
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxxv. 424 His colleague..had exercised the Prætorian præfecture of Italy.
1946 L. W. Jones in tr. Cassiodorus Introd. Divine & Human Readings 14 King Athalaric to the senate of the city of Rome on the promotion of Cassiodorus Senator to the praetorian prefecture.
2005 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 15 Jan. 4 John Lydus was a Philadelphian who came to Constantinople in 511..and found himself a niche in the eastern praetorian prefecture.
Derivatives
praeˈtorianism n. (also pretorianism) a system like that of the Roman praetorian organization; military despotism; government in which the armed forces have a strong or decisive role.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > oppression > [noun] > tyranny, despotism, or autocracy > military despotism
Napoleonism1814
praetorianism1855
1855 Times 13 Feb. 7/1 After the continual rebellions of Pashas and the insupportable pretorianism of the Janissaries, it was a natural reaction which placed the regular army under a strong tutelage.
1870 Pall Mall Gaz. 5 Nov. 5 M. Ernest Legouvé..had to thank Count Bismarck for several benefits—for the death of Cæsarism and pretorianism, Ultramontanism and dandyism, the fusion of classes on the ramparts, the separation of Church and State.
1901 Speaker 9 Feb. 514/2 Nations which believed themselves far beyond the stage of Pretorianism.
1919 W. R. Inge Outspoken Ess. 6 If an autocracy does not rest on the army, which leads to the chaos of praetorianism, it must rely on ‘panem et circenses’.
2005 Concord Times (Sierra Leone) (Nexis) 16 June That problem [of this country]..is not corruption, however obscene..it is not even high-handed praetorianism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.?a1475