Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

protasis

noun prot·a·sis \ ˈprä-tə-səs \

Definition of protasis

plural protases play \ˈprä-tə-ˌsēz\
1 : the introductory part of a play or narrative poem
2 : the subordinate clause of a conditional sentence — compare apodosis
—

protatic

play \prä-ˈta-tik, prō-\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of protasis

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 thin

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up protasis? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games