protasis

noun

prot·​a·​sis ˈprä-tə-səs How to pronounce protasis (audio)
plural protases ˈprä-tə-ˌsēz How to pronounce protasis (audio)
1
: the introductory part of a play or narrative poem
2
: the subordinate clause of a conditional sentence compare apodosis
protatic
prä-ˈta-tik How to pronounce protasis (audio)
prō-
adjective

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek, premise of a syllogism, conditional clause, from proteinein to stretch out before, put forward, from pro- + teinein to stretch — more at tenant entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of protasis was circa 1568

Dictionary Entries Near protasis

protarsus

protasis

protaspid

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Protasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protasis. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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