a magistrate among the ancient Romans, not unlike our lord chief justices, or lord chancellor, or both in one: as being vested with the power of distributing justice among the citizens. At first there was only one pretor; but afterwards another being created, the first or chief one had the title of pretor urbanus, or the city-pretor; the other was called peregrinus, as being judge in all matters relating to foreigners. But, besides these, there were afterwards created many provincial pretors; who were not only judges, but also assisted the consuls in the government of the provinces, and even were invested with the government of provinces themselves.