Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🏛️ A civil official 🪖 A military officer ⛪ A church official
praefectus

praefectus

9.9
A military officer who commands a unit or camp in ancient Rome
  • noun
  • /ˈprɛfɛktəs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : prefecto militar
  • The praefectus was responsible for maintaining discipline within the camp.

Examples

  • Archaeologists discovered an inscription naming a praefectus who served in Britain.

  • The praefectus led his troops into battle.

  • During the battle, the praefectus gave orders to the soldiers under his command.

  • The praefecti were responsible for maintaining discipline.

  • The praefectus commanded the legion with great authority during the campaign.

  • In ancient Rome, the praefectus was often responsible for the daily operations of the camp.

  • Every centurion reported to the praefectus at the end of the day.

Surface Forms

praefectus singular
praefecti plural

Etymology

Praefectus comes from the Latin parts prae- 'before' and facere 'to put', so it literally means someone 'placed in front' to command. Imagine an officer standing before the soldiers to give orders; that's why a praefectus could be the military officer in charge of a camp.