Definition of "palatine" [pal•a•tine]

• A soldier of the palace guard of the Roman emperors, formed in the time of Diocletian. (noun)
• A soldier of a major division of the Roman army formed in the time of Constantine I. (noun)
• Used as a title for various administrative officials of the late Roman and Byzantine empires. (noun)
• A feudal lord exercising sovereign power over his lands. Also called palsgrave. (noun)
• Belonging to or fit for a palace. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Its lower portion, which hangs like a curtain between the mouth and pharynx is termed the palatine velum."
• "That no serious trouble ever came from the so-called palatine earldoms is itself evidence of the powerful monarchy ruling in England."
• "The distressed family of the palatine was a great burden on James, during part of his reign."