Protosulphide 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 noun [ Proto- + sulphuret .] (Chemistry) A protosulphide. [ Obsolete]

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

Prototracheata noun plural [ New Latin See Proto- , and Trachea .] (Zoology) Same as Malacopoda .

Prototype 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 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 adjective (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the protovertebræ.

Protoxide 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 transitive verb (Chemistry) To combine with oxygen, as any elementary substance, in such proportion as to form a protoxide.

Protozoa 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 adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to the Protozoa . -- noun One of the Protozoa.

Protozoic 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 (-ŏn) noun ; plural Protozoa . [ New Latin ] (Zoology) (a) One of the Protozoa. (b) A single zooid of a compound protozoan.

Protozoönite noun (Zoology) One of the primary, or first-formed, segments of an embryonic arthropod.

Protracheata noun plural [ New Latin See Pro- , and Trachea .] (Zoology) Same as Malacopoda .

Protract 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 noun [ Latin protractus .] Tedious continuance or delay. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Protracted 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 noun A protractor.

Protractile adjective Capable of being protracted, or protruded; protrusile.

Protraction 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 adjective Drawing out or lengthening in time; prolonging; continuing; delaying.

He suffered their protractive arts.

Dryden.

Protractor 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 adjective [ Greek ..., from ... to turn forward, to urge on.] Adapted to persuade; hortatory; persuasive. [ Obsolete] Bp. Ward.

Protrudable adjective That may be protruded; protrusile. Darwin.

Protrude 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 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 adjective Capable of being protruded or thrust out; protractile; protrusive.

Protrusion noun
1. The act of protruding or thrusting forward, or beyond the usual limit.

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

Protrusive adjective
1. Thrusting or impelling forward; as, protrusive motion. E. Darwin.

2. Capable of being protruded; protrusile.

Protrusively adverb In a protrusive manner.

Protuberance 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 noun The quality or state of being protuberant; protuberance; prominence.

Protuberant 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 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 noun The act of swelling beyond the surrounding surface. Cooke (1615).

Protuberous adjective Protuberant. [ R.]

Protureter noun [ New Latin See Proto- , Ureter .] (Anat.) The duct of a pronephros. Haeckel.

Protyle 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 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 adjective Somewhat proud. Ash.

Proudling noun A proud or haughty person. Sylvester.

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

Proudly he marches on, and void of fear.

Addison.

Proudness noun The quality of being proud; pride.

Set aside all arrogancy and proudness .

Latimer.

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

Provand, Proant noun [ See Provender .] Provender or food. [ Obsolete]

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

Beau. & Fl.

Provant transitive verb To supply with provender or provisions; to provide for. [ Obsolete] Nash.

Provant adjective Provided for common or general use, as in an army; hence, common in quality; inferior. "A poor provant rapier." B. Jonson.