Latin: In Roman law. The name of an officer who, from the time of Augustus, had the superintendence of the city and its police, with jurisdiction extending one hundred miles from the city, and power to decide both civil and criminal cases. As he was considered the direct representative of the emperor, much that pre-: viously belonged to the praetor urbanus fell gradually into … [Read more...] about PRAEFECTUS URBI
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PRAETEXTUS
Lat. A pretext; a pretense or color. Prcetcxtu cujus, by pretense, or under pretext whereof. 1 Ld. Raym. 412. … [Read more...] about PRAETEXTUS
PRAEFECTUS VIGILUM
Roman civ. law. The chief officer of the night watch. His jurisdiction extended to certain offences affecting the public peace; and even to larcenies. But he could inflict only slight punishments. … [Read more...] about PRAEFECTUS VIGILUM
PRAETOR
Roman civil law. A municipal officer of Rome, so called because, (praeiret populo,) he went before or took precedence of the people. The consuls were at first called praetors. Liv. Hist. III. 55. He was a sort of minister of justice, invested with certain legislative powers, especially in regard to the forms or formalities of legal proceedings. Ordinarily, be aid not decide … [Read more...] about PRAETOR
PRAEFECTUS VILLAE
The mayor of a town. … [Read more...] about PRAEFECTUS VILLAE