Dictionary entry

Pedarian

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Pe‐da″ri‐an (?), n. [L. pedarius, fr. pedarius belonging to the foot, fr. pes, pedis, foot.] (Rom. Antiq.) One of a class eligible to the office of senator, but not yet chosen, who could sit and speak in the senate, but could not vote; — so called because he might indicate his opinion by walking over to the side of the party he favored when a vote was taken.