Protasis

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Protasis \Prot"a*sis\ (pr[o^]t"[.a]*s[i^]s), n. [L., fr. Gr.
     pro`tasis, fr. protei`nein to stretch before, forward; pro`
     before + tei`nein to stretch.]
     1. A proposition; a maxim. --Johnson.
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     2. (Gram.) The introductory or subordinate member of a
        sentence, generally of a conditional sentence; -- opposed
        to {apodosis}. See {Apodosis}.
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     3. The first part of a drama, of a poem, or the like; the
        introduction; opposed to {epitasis}. --B. Jonson.
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