01 n. A Roman officer who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.; as, the prefect of the aqueducts; the prefe…
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1.
A Roman officer who controlled or superintended a particular command, charge, department, etc.; as, the prefect of the aqueducts; the prefect of a camp, of a fleet, of the city guard, of provisions; the pretorian prefect, who was commander of the troops guarding the emperor's person.
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2.
A superintendent of a department who has control of its police establishment, together with extensive powers of municipal regulation.[France]
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3.
In the Greek and Roman Catholic churches, a title of certain dignitaries below the rank of bishop.
Phrases & compounds
Apostolic prefect —
the head of a mission, not of episcopal rank.