Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

protasis

noun
Save Word
prot·​a·​sis | \ ˈprä-tə-səs How to pronounce protasis (audio) \
plural protases\ ˈprä-​tə-​ˌsēz How to pronounce protasis (audio) \

Definition of protasis

1 : the introductory part of a play or narrative poem
2 : the subordinate clause of a conditional sentence — compare apodosis

Other Words from protasis

protatic \ prä-​ˈta-​tik How to pronounce protasis (audio) , prō-​ \ adjective

First Known Use of protasis

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for 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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about protasis

Time Traveler for protasis

Time Traveler

The first known use of protasis was circa 1568

See more words from the same year

Statistics for protasis

Cite this Entry

“Protasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protasis. Accessed 21 Jan. 2021.

Comments on protasis

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

exact

Listen to the pronunciation of exact

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Words of Snow and Ice Quiz

  • image1037863653
  • Which of the following refers to thin, bending ice, or to the act of running over such ice?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Typeshift

Anagram puzzles meet word search.

TAKE THE QUIZ
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