praetōrĭum, ii, n. [praetor].
I A general's tent , Liv. 10, 33: dictatoris, id. 7, 12: imperatoris Aequorum, id. 3, 25; Caes. B. C. 1, 76.—
B Transf.
1 A council of war (because held in the general's tent): praetorio dimisso, Liv. 30, 5; 37, 5: missum, id. 21, 54, 3.—
2 The official residence of the governor in a province, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 28, § 65: curritur ad praetorium, id. ib. 2, 5, 35, § 92; Vulg. Matt. 27, 27.—
3 A palace (post-Aug.): sedet ad praetoria regis, Juv. 10, 161: Herodis, Vulg. Act. 23, 35; id. Phil. 1, 13.—
4 In gen., a magnificent building , a splendid country-seat (post-Aug.): ampla et operosa praetoria, Suet. Aug. 72: in exstructionibus praetoriorum atque villarum, id. Calig. 37; id. Tib. 39: alternas servant praetoria ripas, Stat. S. 1, 3, 25; Juv. 1, 75; Dig. 31, 1, 35; 50, 16, 198.—
5 Of other dwelling - places, the cell of the queen-bee : et circa regem atque ipsa ad praetoria, densae Miscentur, Verg. G. 4, 75. —Of Diogenes's tub : utcumque sol se inclinaverat, Diogenis simul praetorium vertebatur, Hier. adv. Jovin. 2, 14.—
II The imperial body - guard , the guards , whose commander was called praefectus praetorio or praetorii: in praetorium accepti, Tac. H. 4, 26 fin. : meruit in praetorio Augusti centurio, Plin. 7, 20, 19, § 82: militare in praetorio, id. 25, 2, 6, § 17: ascriptis veteranis e praetorio, Suet. Ner. 9: praetorii praefectus, Tac. H. 1, 19.