Pretorian

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A member of an ancient Roman military unit designated to guard high-ranking officials
2. A soldier chosen for their role in protecting prominent leaders of ancient Rome
3. One of the specially selected troops assigned to the defense of Roman magistrates and emperors

Etymology: The word is an alternative spelling of "praetorian", and its history starts with the Roman general's tent. In Latin, "praetorium" was the commander's quarters in a camp, and the "praetor" was the magistrate, a name tied to the leader who went before an army. Soldiers attached to that headquarters came to be called "praetoriani", and the adjective "praetorianus" described anything belonging to them or their commander. The adjective was carried into English through Middle English as "pretorian", a form that shows its Latin ancestor clearly in the stress and the vowels. Its meaning stayed close to the Roman original: it describes the elite guard that the emperors of ancient Rome kept close to protect them, and by extension anything with a similar role of guarding a ruler or powerful figure.

Synonyms: imperial, military, authoritative, commanding

Antonyms: civilian, nonmilitary