— praetorial /pree tawr"ee euhl, -tohr"-/ , adj.
/pree"teuhr/ , n.
(in the ancient Roman republic) one of a number of elected magistrates charged chiefly with the administration of civil justice and ranking next below a consul.
Also, pretor .
[ 1375-1425; late ME pretor praetor, for * praeitor leader, lit., one going before, equiv. to * praei-, var. s. of praeire to go before, lead ( prae- PRAE- + -i-, base of ire to go) + -tor -TOR ]