n. 1. a. A soldier of the palace guard of the Roman emperors, formed in the time of Diocletian. b. A soldier of a major division of the Roman army formed in the time of Constantine I. 2. Used as a title for various administrative officials of the late Roman and Byzantine empires. 3. A feudal lord exercising sovereign power over his lands. Also called palsgrave. adj. 1. Belonging to or fit for a palace. 2. Of or relating to a palatine or palatinate. [From Middle English, ruled by an independent lord, from Old French palatin, from Late Latin palātīnus, palace official, from Latin palātīnus, from Palātium, imperial residence; see PALACE.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.