Time is a protensive quantity.
Sir W. Hamilton.
||Pro`te*ol"y*sis (?), n. [NL. See Proteolytic.] (Physiol. Chem.) The
||digestion or dissolving of proteid matter by proteolytic ferments.
Pro`te*o*lyt"ic (?), a. [Proteid + Gr. &?; to loose.] (Physiol.)
Converting proteid or albuminous matter into soluble and diffusible
products, as peptones. " The proteolytic ferment of the pancreas."
Foster.
Pro`ter*an"drous (?), a. [Gr. &?; earlier (fr. &?; before) + &?;, &?;,
man, male.] (Bot.) Having the stamens come to maturity before the
pistil; -- opposed to proterogynous.
Pro`ter*an"dry (?), n. (Bot.) The condition of being proterandrous.
Pro`ter*an"thous (?), a. [Gr. &?; earlier (fr. &?; before) + &?;
flower.] (Bot.) Having flowers appearing before the leaves; -- said of
certain plants. Gray.
Pro`te*rog"ly*pha (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; before + &?; to carve.]
(Zoˆl.) A suborder of serpents including those that have permanently
erect grooved poison fangs, with ordinary teeth behind them in the
jaws. It includes the cobras, the asps, and the sea snakes. Called also
Proteroglyphia.
Pro`ter*og"y*nous (?), a. [Gr. &?; earlier (fr. &?; before) + &?;
woman, female.] (Bot.) Having the pistil come to maturity before the
stamens; protogynous; -- opposed to proterandrous.
||Pro`te*ro*sau"rus (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; earlier (fr. &?; before)
||+ &?; a lizard.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of reptiles of the
||Permian period. Called also Protosaurus.
Pro*ter"vi*ty (?), n. [L. protervitas, from protervus violent.]
Peevishness; petulance. [Obs.] Fuller.
Pro*test" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Protested; p. pr. & vb. n.
Protesting.] [F. protester, L. protestari, pro before + testari to be a
witness, testis a witness. See Testify.] 1. To affirm in a public or
formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow.
He protest that his measures are pacific.
Landor.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
Shak.
2. To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of
opposition; -- with against; as, he protest against your votes. Denham.
The conscience has power . . . to protest againts the exorbitancies
of the passions.
Shak.
Syn. -- To affirm; asseverate; assert; aver; attest; testify; declare;
profess. See Affirm.
Pro*test", v. t. 1. To make a solemn declaration or affirmation of; to
proclaim; to display; as, to protest one's loyalty.