LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinethird declension

praesul

praesul m (genitive praesulis)
Classical[ˈprae̯.sʊɫ]Ecclesiastical[ˈprɛː.s̬ul]

Meaning

  1. masculinea public dancer who dances in leaps
  2. masculinethe leader of the Salii (ancient Roman priests of Mars)
    Octavo aetatis anno in Saliorum collegium rettulit. [...] Fuit in eo sacerdotio et praesul et vates et magister, et multos inauguravit et exauguravit nemine praeeunte, quod ipse carmina cuncta didicisset.When he [Marcus Aurelius] was eight years old, he [Hadrian] enrolled him in the college of the Salii. … In that priesthood, he was leader and seer and master, admitting and expelling many men, without anybody dictating the songs to him as he had learned them all.4th century, Historia Augusta:
  3. masculinepost Classicaldirector, president
  4. masculinepost Classicalpatron, protector
    Te lucis ante terminum / rerum creator poscimus / ut solita clementia / sis praesul ad custodiam.Before the end of the light, we beseech Thee, creator of things, that by thy accustomed mercy thou wouldst be [our] protector unto safekeeping.4th century, “Te lucis ante terminum”, St. Ambrose? (lyrics):
  5. EcclesiasticalLatinMedieval Latinmasculinebishop
    Bibit puer, bibit canus / bibit praesul et decanusChildren drink, the grey-haired drink / Bishops drink and [so do] deacons11th–13th centuries, “Carmina Burana”, anonymous lyricist:

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativepraesulpraesulēs
genitivepraesulispraesulum
dativepraesulīpraesulibus
accusativepraesulempraesulēs
ablativepraesulepraesulibus
vocativepraesulpraesulēs

praesul, sŭlis, comm. praesilio,
I. one who leaps or dances before others, a dancer in public, public dancer.
I. Lit. (class.), Cic. Div. 1, 26, 55; 2, 66, 136.—
B. In partic., the leader of the Salii, who annually leaped and danced through the city, bearing the ancilia: fuit in eo sacerdotio (Saliorum) et praesul et vates et magister, Capitol. M. Aurel. 4.—
II. Transf., in gen., a presider, president, director; a patron, protector, etc. (post-class.): agri praesul, Pall. 1, 6: fori, Sid. Ep. 4, 14: praesul creatus litteris, Aus. Ep. 4, 79; Pall. 1, 6 fin.: Angerona, diva praesul silentii, Sol. 1; Mart. Cap. 2, § 160 fin.: et Junone calent hic arae praesule semper, Avien. Perieg. 519.

Origins

From the prefix prae- and the root found in saliō (“to jump”).

Descendants
  • Italianpresule

Quick answers

What does praesul mean in Latin?
praesul, a noun, means “a public dancer who dances in leaps; the leader of the Salii (ancient Roman priests of Mars); director, president”.
What is the genitive of praesul?
The genitive singular is praesulis. praesul is masculine, third declension.
How do you pronounce praesul?
In classical Latin, [ˈprae̯.sʊɫ]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈprɛː.s̬ul].