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Glite Dictionary
pretor

pretor

9.9
An official in ancient Rome elected each year to make decisions in courts
  • noun
  • /ˈpriːtər/
  • Literature
translation icon : pretor
  • In ancient Rome, the pretor was responsible for administering justice and ensuring fair trials.

Examples

  • In ancient Rome, the pretor ranked just below the consul in authority.

  • Every year, a new pretor was elected by the citizens.

  • A newly elected pretor would oversee legal cases for one year.

  • The pretor played an essential role in maintaining order in the Roman Republic.

  • The pretor oversaw the trials in the ancient city.

  • Each pretor had the authority to make important legal decisions during their term in office.

  • The role of a pretor included overseeing the judicial process and handling various administrative duties.

Synonyms

praetor
vspretor
  • Literature
12 9.9

A Roman official elected each year who runs courts and handles legal cases

includes justice plus additional official duties beyond courts

Surface Forms

pretor singular
pretors plural

Etymology

Pretor comes from the Latin part prae- meaning 'before', and it originally named someone who 'went before' others as a leader. That's why a pretor was an elected official who took the lead in law and judged legal cases.