pretor

[L. praetor, for praeitor, fr. praeire to go before; prae before + ire to go. See Issue.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.) A civil officer or magistrate among the ancient Romans.

Note: 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. [R.] Dryden.