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 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

Cite this Entry

“Protasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protasis. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!