Chapter 1224

Pros"ti*tute , a. [L. prostitutus , p. p.] Openly given up to lewdness; devoted to base or infamous purposes.

Made bold by want, and prostitute for bread. Prior

Prostitute <Xpage=1151>

Pros"ti*tute , n. [L. prostituta .] 1. A woman giver to indiscriminate lewdness; a strumpet; a harlot.

2. A base hireling; a mercenary; one who offers himself to infamous employments for hire.

No hireling she, no prostitute to praise. Pope.

Prostitution <Xpage=1151>

Pros`ti*tu"tion (?) , n. [L. prostitutio : cf. F. prostitution .] 1. The act or practice of prostituting or offering the body to an indiscriminate intercourse with men; common lewdness of a woman.

2. The act of setting one's self to sale, or of devoting to infamous purposes what is in one's power; as, the prostitution of abilities; the prostitution of the press. "Mental prostitution ."

Byron.

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Prostitutor <Xpage=1152>

Pros"ti*tu`tor (?) , n. [L.] One who prostitutes; one who submits himself, of or offers another, to vile purposes.

Bp. Hurd.

Prostomium <Xpage=1152>

Pro*sto"mi*um (?) , n. ; pl. Prostomia (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ before + <?/, <?/, mouth.] (Zo\'94l.) That portion of the head of an annelid situated in front of the mouth. -- Pro*sto"mi*al (#) , a.

Prostrate <Xpage=1152>

Pros"trate (?) , a. [L. prostratus , p. p. of prosternere to prostrate; pro before, forward + sternere to spread out, throw down. See Stratum .] 1. Lying at length, or with the body extended on the ground or other surface; stretched out; as, to sleep prostrate

Elyot.

Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire. Milton.

2. Lying at mercy, as a supplicant.

Dryden.

3. Lying in a humble, lowly, or suppliant posture.

Prostrate fall Before him reverent, and there confess Humbly our faults. Milton.

4. (Bot.) Trailing on the ground; procumbent.

Prostrate <Xpage=1152>

Pros"trate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prostrated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Prostrating .] 1. To lay fiat; to throw down; to level; to fell; as, to prostrate the body; to prostrate trees or plants.

Evelyn.

2. to overthrow; to demolish; to destroy; to deprive of efficiency; to ruin; as, to prostrate a village; to prostrate a government; to prostrate law or justice.

3. To throw down, or cause to fall in humility or adoration; to cause to bow in humble reverence; used reflexively; as, he prostrated himself .

Milman.

4. To cause to sink totally; to deprive of strength; to reduce; as, a person prostrated by fever .

Prostration <Xpage=1152>

Pros*tra"tion (?) , n. [L. prostratio : cf. F. prostration .] 1. The act of prostrating, throwing down, or laying fiat; as, the prostration of the body .

2. The act of falling down, or of bowing in humility or adoration; primarily, the act of falling on the face, but usually applied to kneeling or bowing in reverence and worship.

A greater prostration of reason than of body. Shak.

3. The condition of being prostrate; great depression; lowness; dejection; as, a postration of spirits . "A sudden prostration of strength."

Arbuthnot.

4. (Med.) A latent, not an exhausted, state of the vital energies; great oppression of natural strength and vigor.

&hand; Prostration , in its medical use, is analogous to the state of a spring lying under such a weight that it is incapable of action; while exhaustion is analogous to the state of a spring deprived of its elastic powers. The word, however, is often used to denote any great depression of the vital powers.

Prostyle <Xpage=1152>

Pro"style (?) , a. [L. prostylus , Gr. <?/; <?/ before + <?/ pillar, column: cf. F. prostyle .] (Arch.) Having columns in front. -- n. A prostyle portico or building.

Prosy <Xpage=1152>

Pros"y (?) , a. [ Compar. Prosier (?) ; superl. Prosiest .]

1. Of or pertaining to prose; like prose.

2. Dull and tedious in discourse or writing; prosaic.

Prosylogism <Xpage=1152>

Pro*sy"lo*gism (?) , n. [Pref. pro- + syllogism .] (Logic) A syllogism preliminary or logically essential to another syllogism; the conclusion of such a syllogism, which becomes a premise of the following syllogism.

Protactic <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tac"tic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ placing or placed before, fr. <?/ to place in front; <?/ before + <?/ to arrange.] Giving a previous narrative or explanation, as of the plot or personages of a play; introductory.

<-- Protactinium. A radioactive chemical element. Atomic symbol Pa; at. no. 91; at. wt. of longest-lived isotope, 231 (T <frac12/ = 32,500 yrs.) Also called brevium, Uranium X2 and UX2. -->

Protagon <Xpage=1152>

Pro"ta*gon (?) , n. [ Proto- + Gr. <?/ a contest. See. Protagonist . So called because it was the first definitely ascertained principle of the brain.] (Physiol. Chem.) A nitrogenous phosphorized principle found in brain tissue. By decomposition it yields neurine, fatty acids, and other bodies.

Protagonist <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tag"o*nist (?) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/ first + <?/ an actor, combatant, fr. <?/ a contest.] One who takes the leading part in a drama; hence, one who takes lead in some great scene, enterprise, conflict, or the like.

Shakespeare, the protagonist on the great of modern poetry. De Quincey.

Protamin <Xpage=1152>

Pro"ta*min (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ first.] (Physiol. Chem.) An amorphous nitrogenous substance found in the spermatic fluid of salmon. It is soluble in water, which an alkaline reaction, and unites with acids and metallic bases.

Protandric <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tan"dric (?) , a. [ Proto- + Gr. <?/, <?/, a man.] (Zo\'94l.) Having male sexual organs while young, and female organs later in life. -- Pro*tan"trism (#) , n.

Protandrous <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tan"drous (?) , a. (Bot.) Proterandrous.

Protasis <Xpage=1152>

Prot"a*sis (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to stretch before, forward; <?/ before + <?/ to stretch.] 1. A proposition; a maxim.

Johnson.

2. (Gram.) The introductory or subordinate member of a sentence, generally of a conditional sentence; -- opposed to apodosis . See Apodosis .

3. The first part of a drama, of a poem, or the like; the introduction; opposed to epitasis .

B. Jonson.

Protatic <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tat"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/: cf. L. protaticus , F. protatique .] Of or pertaining to the protasis of an ancient play; introductory.

Proteaceous <Xpage=1152>

Pro`te*a"ceous (?) , a. [From Proteus .] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the Proteace\'91 , an order of apetalous evergreen shrubs, mostly natives of the Cape of Good Hope or of Australia.

Protean <Xpage=1152>

Pro"te*an (?) , a. 1. Of or pertaining to Proteus; characteristic of Proteus. " Protean transformations."

Cudworth.

2. Exceedingly variable; readily assuming different shapes or forms; as, an am\'d2ba is a protean animalcule .

<-- 3. displaying great variety or versatility. -->

Proteanly <Xpage=1152>

Pro"te*an*ly , adv. In a protean manner.

Cudworth.

Protect <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Protected ; p. pr. & vb. n. Protecting .] [L. protectus , p. p. of protegere , literally, to cover in front; pro before + tegere to cover. See Tegument .] To cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend; to guard; to preserve in safety; as, a father protects his children .

The gods of Greece protect you! Shak.

Syn. -- To guard; shield; preserve. See Defend .

Protectingly <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"ing*ly (?) , adv. By way of protection; in a protective manner.

Protection <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tec"tion (?) , n. [L. protectio : cf. F. protection .] 1. The act of protecting, or the state of being protected; preservation from loss, injury, or annoyance; defense; shelter; as, the weak need protection .

To your protection I commend me, gods. Shak.

2. That which protects or preserves from injury; a defense; a shield; a refuge.

Let them rise up . . . and be your protection . Deut. xxxii. 38.

3. A writing that protects or secures from molestation or arrest; a pass; a safe-conduct; a passport.

He . . . gave them protections under his hand. Macaulay.

4. (Polit. Econ.) A theory, or a policy, of protecting the producers in a country from foreign competition in the home market by the imposition of such discriminating duties on goods of foreign production as will restrict or prevent their importation; -- opposed to free trade .

Writ of protection . (Law) (a) A writ by which the king formerly exempted a person from arrest; -- now disused . [Eng.] Blackstone . (b) A judicial writ issued to a person required to attend court, as party, juror, etc., intended to secure him from arrest in coming, staying, and returning.

Syn. -- Preservation; defense; guard; shelter; refuge; security; safety.

Protectionism <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tec"tion*ism (?) , n. (Polit. Econ.) The doctrine or policy of protectionists. See Protection , 4 .

Protectionist <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tec"tion*ist , n. (Polit. Econ.) One who favors protection. See Protection , 4 .

Protective <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"ive (?) , a. [Cf. F. protectif .] Affording protection; sheltering; defensive. " The favor of a protective Providence."

Feltham.

Protective coloring (Zo\'94l.) , coloring which serves for the concealment and preservation of a living organism. Cf. Mimicry . Wallace . -- Protective tariff (Polit. Econ.) , a tariff designed to secure protection (see Protection , 4 .), as distinguished from a tariff designed to raise revenue. See Tariff , and Protection , 4 .

Protectiveness <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"ive*ness , n. The quality or state of being protective.

W. Pater.

Protector <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"or (?) , n. [L.: cf. F. protecteur .] 1. One who, or that which, defends or shields from injury, evil, oppression, etc.; a defender; a guardian; a patron.

For the world's protector shall be known. Waller.

2. (Eng. Hist.) One having the care of the kingdom during the king's minority; a regent.

Is it concluded he shall be protector ! Shak.

3. (R. C. Ch.) A cardinal, from one of the more considerable Roman Catholic nations, who looks after the interests of his people at Rome; also, a cardinal who has the same relation to a college, religious order, etc.

Lord Protector (Eng. Hist.) , the title of Oliver Cromwell as supreme governor of the British Commonwealth (1653-1658).

Protectoral <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"or*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a protector; protectorial; as, protectoral power .

Protectorate <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"or*ate (?) , n. [Cf. F. protectorat .] 1. Government by a protector; -- applied especially to the government of England by Oliver Cromwell.

2. The authority assumed by a superior power over an inferior or a dependent one, whereby the former protects the latter from invasion and shares in the management of its affairs.

Protectorial <Xpage=1152>

Pro`tec*to"ri*al (?) , a. [Cf. L. protectorius .] Same as Protectoral .

Protectorless <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"or*less (?) , a. Having no protector; unprotected.

Protectorship <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"or*ship , The office of a protector or regent; protectorate.

Protectress, Protectrix <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tect"ress (?) , Pro*tect"rix (?) , n. [NL. protectrix .] A woman who protects.

Prot\'82g\'82, n. m. Prot\'82g\'82e <Xpage=1152>

Pro`t\'82`g\'82" (?) , n. m. Pro`t\'82`g\'82e" (?) , n. f. [F., p. p. of prot\'82ger . See Protect .] One under the care and protection of another.

Proteid <Xpage=1152>

Pro"te*id (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ first.] (Physiol. Chem.) One of a class of amorphous nitrogenous principles, containing, as a rule, a small amount of sulphur; an albuminoid, as blood fibrin, casein of milk, etc. Proteids are present in nearly all animal fluids and make up the greater part of animal tissues and organs. They are also important constituents of vegetable tissues. See 2d Note under Food . -- Pro"te*id , a. <-- older term for protein. -->

Proteidea <Xpage=1152>

Pro`te*id"e*a (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Proteus , and -oid .] (Zo\'94l.) An order of aquatic amphibians having prominent external gills and four legs. It includes Proteus and Menobranchus ( Necturus ). Called also Proteoidea , and Proteida .

Proteiform <Xpage=1152>

Pro*te"i*form (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Changeable in form; resembling a Proteus, or an am\'d2ba.

Protein <Xpage=1152>

Pro"te*in (?) , n. [Gr. prw^tos first: cf. prwtei^on the first place.] (Physiol. Chem.) A body now known as alkali albumin, but originally considered to be the basis of all albuminous substances, whence its name. <-- This definition is no longer used. Proetin is now defined as any polymer of an amino acid joined by peptide (amide) bonds. Most natural proteins have alpha-amino acids as the monomeric constituents. All classical enzymes are composed of protein, and control most of the biochemical transformations carrie dout in living cells. They may be soluble, as casein, albumins, and other globular proteins, or insoluble (e. g. "structural proteins"), as collagen or keratin. "albumin", an older term for protein, is now used primarily to refer to certain specific soluble globular proteins found in eggs or blood serum, e.g. Bovine serum albumin, used as an enzymatically inert protein in biochemical research. -->

Protein crystal . (Bot.) See Crystalloid , n. , 2.

Proteinaceous <Xpage=1152>

Pro`te*i*na"*ceous (?) , a. (Physiol. Chem.) Of or related to protein; albuminous; proteid.

Proteinous <Xpage=1152>

Pro*te"i*nous (?) , a. Proteinaceuos.

Proteles <Xpage=1152>

Pro"te*les (?) , n. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) A South Africa genus of Carnivora, allied to the hyenas, but smaller and having weaker jaws and teeth. It includes the aard-wolf.

Protend <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tend" (?) v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Protended ; p. pr. & vb. n. Protending .] [L. protendere , protensum ; pro before, forth + tendere to stretch.] To hold out; to stretch forth. [Obs.]

With his protended lance he makes defence. Dryden .

Protense <Xpage=1152>

Pro*tense" (?) , n. [See Protend .] Extension. [Obs.] " By due degrees and long protense ."

Spenser.

Protension <Xpage=1152>

Pro*ten"sion (?) , n. [L. protensio .] A drawing out; extension. [R.]

Sir W. Hamilton.

Protensive <Xpage=1152>

Pro*ten"sive (?) , a. Drawn out; extended. [R.]

Time is a protensive quantity. Sir W. Hamilton.

Proteolysis <Xpage=1152>

Pro`te*ol"y*sis (?) , n. [NL. See Proteolytic .] (Physiol. Chem.) The digestion or dissolving of proteid matter by proteolytic ferments.

Proteolytic <Xpage=1152>

Pro`te*o*lyt"ic (?) , a. [ Proteid + Gr. <?/ to loose.] (Physiol.) Converting proteid or albuminous matter into soluble and diffusible products, as peptones. " The proteolytic ferment of the pancreas."

Foster.

Proterandrous <Xpage=1152>

Pro`ter*an"drous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ earlier (fr. <?/ before) + <?/, <?/, man, male.] (Bot.) Having the stamens come to maturity before the pistil; -- opposed to proterogynous .

Proterandry <Xpage=1152>

Pro`ter*an"dry (?) , n. (Bot.) The condition of being proterandrous.

Proteranthous <Xpage=1152>

Pro`ter*an"thous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ earlier (fr. <?/ before) + <?/ flower.] (Bot.) Having flowers appearing before the leaves; -- said of certain plants.

Gray.

Proteroglypha <Xpage=1152>

Pro`te*rog"ly*pha (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ before + <?/ to carve.] (Zo\'94l.) A suborder of serpents including those that have permanently erect grooved poison fangs, with ordinary teeth behind them in the jaws. It includes the cobras, the asps, and the sea snakes. Called also Proteroglyphia .

Proterogynous <Xpage=1152>

Pro`ter*og"y*nous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ earlier (fr. <?/ before) + <?/ woman, female.] (Bot.) Having the pistil come to maturity before the stamens; protogynous; -- opposed to proterandrous .

Proterosaurus <Xpage=1152>

Pro`te*ro*sau"rus (?) , n. [NL., from Gr. <?/ earlier (fr. <?/ before) + <?/ a lizard.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of reptiles of the Permian period. Called also Protosaurus .

Protervity <Xpage=1152>

Pro*ter"vi*ty (?) , n. [L. protervitas , from protervus violent.] Peevishness; petulance. [Obs.]

Fuller.

Protest <Xpage=1152>

Pro*test" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Protested ; p. pr. & vb. n. Protesting .] [F. protester , L. protestari , pro before + testari to be a witness, testis a witness. See Testify .] 1. To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow.

He protest that his measures are pacific. Landor.

The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Shak.

2. To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of opposition; -- with against ; as, he protest against your votes .

Denham.

The conscience has power . . . to protest againts the exorbitancies of the passions. Shak.

Syn. -- To affirm; asseverate; assert; aver; attest; testify; declare; profess. See Affirm .

Protest <Xpage=1152>

Pro*test" , v. t. 1. To make a solemn declaration or affirmation of; to proclaim; to display; as, to protest one's loyalty .

I will protest your cowardice. Shak.

2. To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to.

Fiercely [they] opposed My journey strange, with clamorous uproar Protesting fate supreme. Milton.