praetorian (redirected from pretorians)

prae·to·ri·an also pre·to·ri·an  (pr-tôr-n, -tr-)

adj.

1. Of or relating to a praetor or the praetorship.

2. Praetorian Of or belonging to the Praetorian Guard.

3. Venal; corruptible: "A large praetorian bureaucracy, filled with ambitious, possessive . . . and often sycophantic people, makes work and makes trouble" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.)

n.

1. A praetor or ex-praetor.

2. Praetorian A member of the Praetorian Guard.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Praetorian - a member of the Praetorian Guard     Praetorian Guard Praetorian Guard - the elite bodyguard of a Roman Emperor in ancient Rome bodyguard, escort - someone who escorts and protects a prominent person
Adj.	1.	praetorian - of or relating to a Roman praetor; "praetorial powers" praetorial, pretorial, pretorian
	2.	Praetorian - characteristic of or similar to the corruptible soldiers in the Praetorian Guard with respect to corruption or political venality; "a large Praetorian bureaucracy filled with ambitious...and often sycophantic people makes work and makes trouble"- Arthur M.Schlesinger Jr. Pretorian corrupt - lacking in integrity; "humanity they knew to be corrupt...from the day of Adam's creation"; "a corrupt and incompetent city government"