prae·tor also pre·tor 
(prētər)
(prētər)n.
An annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic, ranking below but having approximately the same functions as a consul.
[Middle English pretor, from Old French, from Latin praetor, perhaps from praeīre, to go before : prae-, pre- + īre, to go; see ei- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
prae·tori·al (prē-tôrē-əl) adj.
praetor·ship′ n.