Protosilicate Pro`to·sil"i·cate noun [ Proto- + silicate .] (Chemistry) A silicate formed with the lowest proportion of silicic acid, or having but one atom of silicon in the molecule.

Protosomite Pro`to·so"mite noun [ Proto- + somite .] (Zoology) One of the primitive segments, or metameres, of an animal.

Protosulphide Pro`to·sul"phide noun [ Proto- + sulphide .] (Chemistry) That one of a series of sulphides of any element which has the lowest proportion of sulphur; a sulphide with but one atom of sulphur in the molecule.

Protosulphuret Pro`to·sul"phu·ret noun [ Proto- + sulphuret .] (Chemistry) A protosulphide. [ Obsolete]

Prototheria Pro`to·the"ri·a noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek prw^tos first + qhri`on , dim. of qh`r beast.] (Zoology) Same as Monotremata .

Prototracheata Pro`to·tra`che·a"ta noun plural [ New Latin See Proto- , and Trachea .] (Zoology) Same as Malacopoda .

Prototype Pro"to·type noun [ French, from Latin prototypus original, primitive, Greek ..., ...; ... first + ... type, model. See Proto- , and Type ] An original or model after which anything is copied; the pattern of anything to be engraved, or otherwise copied, cast, or the like; a primary form; exemplar; archetype.

They will turn their backs on it, like their great precursor and prototype .

Burke.

Protovertebra Pro`to·ver"te·bra noun ; plural Protovertebræ . [ Proto- + vertebra .] (Anat.) One of the primitive masses, or segments, into which the mesoblast of the vertebrate embryo breaks up on either side of the anterior part of the notochord; a mesoblastic, or protovertebral, somite. See Illust. of Ectoderm .

» The protovertebræ were long regarded as rudiments of the permanent vertebræ, but they are now known to give rise to the dorsal muscles and other structures as well as the vertebral column. See Myotome .

Protovertebral Pro`to·ver"te·bral adjective (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the protovertebræ.

Protoxide Pro·tox"ide noun [ Proto- + oxide : confer French protoxide .] (Chemistry) That one of a series of oxides having the lowest proportion of oxygen. See Proto- , 2 (b) .

protoxide of nitrogen , laughing gas, now called hyponitrous oxide . See under Laughing .

Protoxidize Pro·tox"i·dize transitive verb (Chemistry) To combine with oxygen, as any elementary substance, in such proportion as to form a protoxide.

Protozoa Pro`to·zo"a noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ... first + ... an animal.] (Zoology) The lowest of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom.

» The entire animal consists of a single cell which is variously modified; but in many species a number of these simple zooids are united together so as to form a compound body or organism, as in the Foraminifera and Vorticellæ. The reproduction takes place by fission, or by the breaking up of the contents of the body after encystment, each portion becoming a distinct animal, or in other ways, but never by true eggs. The principal divisions are Rhizopoda, Gregarinæ, and Infusoria. See also Foraminifera , Heliozoa , Protoplasta , Radiolaria , Flagellata , Ciliata .

Protozoan Pro`to·zo"an adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Protozoa . -- noun One of the Protozoa.

Protozoic Pro`to·zo"ic adjective 1. (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Protozoa.

2. (Geol.) Containing remains of the earliest discovered life of the globe, which included mollusks, radiates and protozoans.

Protozoön Pro`to·zo"ön (-ŏn) noun ; plural Protozoa . [ New Latin ] (Zoology) (a) One of the Protozoa. (b) A single zooid of a compound protozoan.

Protozoönite Pro`to·zo"ö·nite noun (Zoology) One of the primary, or first-formed, segments of an embryonic arthropod.

Protoörganism Pro`to·ör"gan·ism noun [ Proto- + organism .] (Biol.) An organism whose nature is so difficult to determine that it might be referred to either the animal or the vegetable kingdom.

Protracheata Pro·tra`che·a"ta noun plural [ New Latin See Pro- , and Trachea .] (Zoology) Same as Malacopoda .

Protract Pro·tract" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Protracted ; present participle verbal noun Protracting .] [ Latin protractus , past participle of protrahere to forth, protract; pro forward + trahere to draw. See Portrait , Portray .] 1. To draw out or lengthen in time or (rarely) in space; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to protract a war.

2. To put off to a distant time; to delay; to defer; as, to protract a decision or duty. Shak.

3. (Surv.) To draw to a scale; to lay down the lines and angles of, with scale and protractor; to plot.

4. (Zoology) To extend; to protrude; as, the cat can protract its claws; -- opposed to retract .

Protract Pro·tract" noun [ Latin protractus .] Tedious continuance or delay. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Protracted Pro·tract`ed adjective Prolonged; continued.

Protracted meeting , a religious meeting continued for many successive days. [ U. S.]

-- Pro*tract"ed*ly , adverb -- Pro*tract"ed*ness , noun

Protracter Pro·tract"er noun A protractor.

Protractile Pro·tract"ile adjective Capable of being protracted, or protruded; protrusile.

Protraction Pro·trac"tion noun [ Latin protractio .] 1. A drawing out, or continuing; the act of delaying the termination of a thing; prolongation; continuance; delay; as, the protraction of a debate.

A protraction only of what is worst in life.

Mallock.

2. (Surv.) (a) The act or process of making a plot on paper. (b) A plot on paper.

Protractive Pro·tract"ive adjective Drawing out or lengthening in time; prolonging; continuing; delaying.

He suffered their protractive arts.

Dryden.

Protractor Pro·tract"or noun 1. One who, or that which, protracts, or causes protraction.

2. A mathematical instrument for laying down and measuring angles on paper, used in drawing or in plotting. It is of various forms, semicircular, rectangular, or circular.

3. (Surg.) An instrument formerly used in extracting foreign or offensive matter from a wound.

4. (Anat.) A muscle which extends an organ or part; -- opposed to retractor .

5. An adjustable pattern used by tailors. Knight.

Protreptical Pro·trep"tic·al adjective [ Greek ..., from ... to turn forward, to urge on.] Adapted to persuade; hortatory; persuasive. [ Obsolete] Bp. Ward.

Protrudable Pro·trud"a·ble adjective That may be protruded; protrusile. Darwin.

Protrude Pro·trude" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Protruded ; present participle & verbal noun Protruding .] [ Latin protrudere , protrusum ; pro forward + trudere to thrust. See Threat .]

1. To thrust forward; to drive or force along. Locke.

2. To thrust out, as through a narrow orifice or from confinement; to cause to come forth.

When . . . Spring protrudes the bursting gems.

Thomson.

Protrude Pro·trude" intransitive verb To shoot out or forth; to be thrust forward; to extend beyond a limit; to project.

The parts protrude beyond the skin.

Bacon.

Protrusile Pro·tru"sile adjective Capable of being protruded or thrust out; protractile; protrusive.

Protrusion Pro·tru"sion noun 1. The act of protruding or thrusting forward, or beyond the usual limit.

2. The state of being protruded, or thrust forward.

Protrusive Pro·tru"sive adjective 1. Thrusting or impelling forward; as, protrusive motion. E. Darwin.

2. Capable of being protruded; protrusile.

Protrusively Pro·tru"sive·ly adverb In a protrusive manner.

Protuberance Pro·tu"ber·ance noun [ Confer French protubérance . See Protuberant .] That which is protuberant swelled or pushed beyond the surrounding or adjacent surface; a swelling or tumor on the body; a prominence; a bunch or knob; an elevation.

Solar protuberances (Astron.) , certain rose-colored masses on the limb of the sun which are seen to extend beyond the edge of the moon at the time of a solar eclipse. They may be discovered with the spectroscope on any clear day. Called also solar prominences . See Illust. in Append.

Syn. -- Projection , Protuberance . protuberance differs from projection , being applied to parts that rise from the surface with a gradual ascent or small angle; whereas a projection may be at a right angle with the surface.

Protuberancy Pro·tu"ber·an·cy noun The quality or state of being protuberant; protuberance; prominence.

Protuberant Pro·tu"ber·ant adjective [ Latin protuberans , -antis , present participle of protuberare . See Protuberate .] Prominent, or excessively prominent; bulging beyond the surrounding or adjacent surface; swelling; as, a protuberant joint; a protuberant eye. -- Pro*tu"ber*ant*ly , adverb

Protuberate Pro·tu"ber·ate intransitive verb [ Latin protuberare ; pro forward + tuber a hump, protuberance. See Tuber .] To swell, or be prominent, beyond the adjacent surface; to bulge out. S. Sharp.

Protuberation Pro·tu`ber·a"tion noun The act of swelling beyond the surrounding surface. Cooke (1615).

Protuberous Pro·tu"ber·ous adjective Protuberant. [ R.]

Protureter Pro`tu·re"ter noun [ New Latin See Proto- , Ureter .] (Anat.) The duct of a pronephros. Haeckel.

Protyle Pro"tyle noun [ Proto- + Greek ... stuff, material.] (Chem. & Astron.) The hypothetical homogeneous cosmic material of the original universe, supposed to have been differentiated into what are recognized as distinct chemical elements.

Proud Proud adjective [ Compar. Prouder ; superl. Proudest .] [ Middle English proud , prout , prud , prut , Anglo-Saxon prūt ; akin to Icelandic prūðr stately, handsome, Danish prud handsome. Confer Pride .] 1. Feeling or manifesting pride, in a good or bad sense ; as: (a) Possessing or showing too great self-esteem; overrating one's excellences; hence, arrogant; haughty; lordly; presumptuous.

Nor much expect
A foe so proud will first the weaker seek.

Milton.

O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty !

Shak.

And shades impervious to the proud world's glare.

Keble.

(b) Having a feeling of high self-respect or self-esteem; exulting (in); elated; -- often with of ; as, proud of one's country. " Proud to be checked and soothed." Keble.

Are we proud men proud of being proud ?

Thackeray.

2. Giving reason or occasion for pride or self-gratulation; worthy of admiration; grand; splendid; magnificent; admirable; ostentatious. "Of shadow proud ." Chapman. " Proud titles." Shak. " The proud temple's height." Dryden.

Till tower, and dome, and bridge-way proud
Are mantled with a golden cloud.

Keble.

3. Excited by sexual desire; -- applied particularly to the females of some animals. Sir T. Browne.

» Proud is often used with participles in the formation of compounds which, for the most part, are self-explaining; as, proud -crested, proud -minded, proud -swelling.

Proud flesh (Medicine) , a fungous growth or excrescence of granulations resembling flesh, in a wound or ulcer.

Proudish Proud"ish adjective Somewhat proud. Ash.

Proudling Proud"ling noun A proud or haughty person. Sylvester.

Proudly Proud"ly adverb In a proud manner; with lofty airs or mien; haughtily; arrogantly; boastfully.

Proudly he marches on, and void of fear.

Addison.

Proudness Proud"ness noun The quality of being proud; pride.

Set aside all arrogancy and proudness .

Latimer.

Proustite Proust"ite noun [ From the French chemist, J. Latin Proust .] (Min.) A sulphide of arsenic and silver of a beautiful cochineal-red color, occurring in rhombohedral crystals, and also massive; ruby silver.

Provable Prov"a·ble adjective [ See Prove , and confer Probable .] Capable of being proved; demonstrable. -- Prov"a*ble*ness , noun -- Prov"a*bly , adverb

Provand, Proant Prov"and, Pro"ant noun [ See Provender .] Provender or food. [ Obsolete]

One pease was a soldier's provant a whole day.

Beau. & Fl.

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