dictionary help| pretor | medical dictionary |
1. A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans.
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.
2. Hence, a mayor or magistrate.
Origin: L. Praetor, for praeitor, fr. Praeire to go before; prae = before + ire to go. See Issue.
(01 Mar 1998)
prethyroid, pretibial, pretibial fever, pretibial myxoedema < Prev | Next > pretorium, pretracheal, pretracheal fascia
Bookmark with:      | word visualiser | Go and visit our forums  |
