‖ prætexta Rom. Antiq.
(priːˈtɛkstə)
Also pre-.
[L., short for toga prætexta gown bordered or fringed in front; pa. pple. fem. of prætex-ĕre to weave before, fringe, border.]
A long white robe with a purple border, worn originally by the Roman magistrates and some of the priests, but afterwards by the children of the higher classes, viz. by boys till they were entitled to assume the toga virilis, and by girls till marriage.
| 1601 Holland Pliny xxxiii. i. II. 455 Whiles he was under sixteene yeares of age, and as yet in his Prætexta. 1670 R. Lassels Voy. Italy ii. 153 Little boyes in the habit of a Prætexta. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The pretexta, at first, was a robe of state, or ceremony... In continuance of time it was permitted to noblemens children; and, at length, even to all Roman children in general. a 1763 Shenstone Progr. Taste iv. 85 'Tis the pretexta's utmost bound, With radiant purple edg'd around. 1868 Smith's Smaller Dict. Antiq. 380/2 Girls wore the praetexta till their marriage. |