The Collaborative International Dictionary
Praetexta \Pr[ae]*tex"ta\, n.; pl. Pr[ae]text[ae], E. Pr[ae]textas. [L. (sc. toga), fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, to fringe, border; prae before + texere to weave.] (Rom. Antiq.) A white robe with a purple border, worn by a Roman boy before he was entitled to wear the toga virilis, or until about the completion of his fourteenth year, and by girls until their marriage. It was also worn by magistrates and priests.
Wiktionary
n. (context historical Roman antiquity English) A white robe with a purple border, worn by a Roman boy before he was entitled to wear the ''toga virilis'', or until about the completion of his fourteenth year, and by girls until their marriage. It was also worn by magistrates and priests.
Wikipedia
A Praetexta or Praetexta Fabula was a new genre of Roman tragedy innovated by Gnaeus Naevius, which dealt with the themes of historical Roman figures, instead of the conventional Greek myths. Subsequent writers of praetextae included Ennius, Pacuvius and Lucius Accius. The name refers to the toga praetexta, the official dress of Roman magistrates.
Category:Ancient Roman theatre
Usage examples of "praetexta".
Like the toga praetexta, it had a purple border running all the way around it, but it was also striped in broad bands of alternating red and purple down its length.
For a while, he sat there and contemplated his muddy praetexta and breeches.
Some splendid presents were placed in their charge for the king - gold and silver vases, a purple robe, a tunica palmata together with an ivory sceptre, also a toga praetexta together with a curule chair.
After their visit to Syphax they were commissioned to visit other petty kings in Africa and carry as a present to each of them a toga praetexta and a golden bowl, three pounds in weight.
Four of our sons wear the toga virilis, two the praetexta, and both the daughters are married.