either of two irregularly shaped bones that form the back of the hard palate and helps to form the nasal cavity and the floor of the orbits the most important of the Seven Hills of Rome; supposedly the location of the first settlement and the site of many imperial palaces (Middle Ages) the lord of a palatinate who exercised sovereign powers over his lands any of various important officials in ancient Rome of or relating to a palace of or relating to a count palatine and his royal prerogatives