Definition

Relating to the Praetorian Guard, an elite unit of the Roman army that served as personal bodyguards to the emperor.

Example

The pretorian soldiers were known for their loyalty and discipline in protecting the emperor.

Conversation

Did you hear about the pretorian guards in the history class?

Yeah, they were supposed to protect the Roman emperors, right?

Exactly! It's fascinating how they had such a powerful role back then.

I know! I never realized how much influence they really had.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pretorian is derived from 'praetor' (meaning leader or magistrate) and the suffix '-ian' (meaning relating to or belonging to). The term refers to something related to the Praetorian Guard, the elite unit of the Roman army that served as personal bodyguards to the Roman emperors.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'leader' ('praetor') and how the 'ian' suffix indicates something related to that leader. This helps you remember that 'pretorian' refers to something associated with the elite guards of Roman leaders.

Visually Confused Words