'Pretor' definitions:
Definition of 'pretor'
(from WordNet)
noun
An annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic [syn: praetor, pretor]
Definition of 'Pretor'
From: GCIDE
- Pretor \Pre"tor\, n. [L. praetor, for praeitor, fr. praeire to go before; prae before + ire to go. See Issue.]
- 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans. [1913 Webster]
- Note: Originally the pretor was a kind of third consul; but at an early period two pretors were appointed, the first of whom (praetor urbanus) was a kind of mayor or city judge; the other (praetor peregrinus) was a judge of cases in which one or both of the parties were foreigners. Still later, the number of pretors, or judges, was further increased. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Hence, a mayor or magistrate. [R.] --Dryden. [1913 Webster]