praenomen

or pre·no·men

[ pree-noh-muhn ]

noun

, plural prae·nom·i·na [pree-, nom, -, uh, -n, uh, -, noh, -m, uh, -], prae·no·mens.

1. the first or personal name of a Roman citizen, as “Gaius” in “Gaius Julius Caesar.”

praenomen

/ priːˈnəʊmɛn; priːˈnɒmɪnəl /

noun

1. an ancient Roman's first or given name See also agnomen cognomen nomen

Derived Forms

• praenominal, adjective
• praeˈnominally, adverb

Other Words From

• prae·nom·i·nal [pree-, nom, -, uh, -nl], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of praenomen¹

1655–65; < Latin praenōmen, equivalent to prae- prae- + nōmen name

Word History and Origins

Origin of praenomen¹

C18: from Latin, from prae- before + nōmen name

Example Sentences

His person more than justified his praenomen, for Mr. Harper Freeman, Jr., was undeniably fat.

From Project Gutenberg

Titus is here the first name (praenomen) which was given sons on the ninth day after their birth.

From Project Gutenberg

The name of the month in which he was born was changed to Julius, from his praenomen, and we still retain the name.

From Project Gutenberg

The name by which the poet designates himself is Propertius simply; the praenomen Sextus rests on the authority of Donatus.

From Project Gutenberg

He therefore changed his praenomen to that of his adoptive father, and put his former nomen among his cognomina.

From Project Gutenberg