praetorian

[ pree-tawr-ee-uhn, -tohr- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a praetor.
2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to the Praetorian Guard.

noun

1. a person having the rank of praetor or ex-praetor.
2. (often initial capital letter) a soldier of the Praetorian Guard.

Praetorian

¹

/ priːˈtɔːrɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Praetorian Guard
2. sometimes not capital resembling the Praetorian Guard, esp with regard to corruption

noun

1. a member of the Praetorian Guard

praetorian

²

/ priːˈtɔːrɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to a praetor

noun

1. a person holding praetorian rank; a praetor or ex-praetor

Word History and Origins

Origin of praetorian¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word praetōriānus. See praetor, -ian

Example Sentences

Dictators obviously maintain unilateral control of their militaries, employed as they invariably are as praetorian protectors and coercive extensions of their autocratic overlords.

From Salon

A former bodyguard of the president, he now runs Russia's national guard, Rosgvardia, formed by President Putin in 2016 as a kind of personal army in the style of a Roman empire-like praetorian guard.

From BBC

“It’s an army within an army, the regime’s praetorian guard,” he said.

From New York Times

"We are truly living in a situation where the FBI has become a praetorian guard from Rome where they take it unto themselves to decide who wields power in this country," Miller said.

From Salon

First, he meets his Cabinet this morning, his praetorian guard, who fanned on Monday fanned out to every patch of grass in Westminster to try to prop him up.

From BBC