\Pre"tor\, n. [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.