PROTO- Definition & Meaning

proto-

a combining form meaning “first,” “foremost,” “earliest form of,” used in the formation of compound words (protomartyr; protolithic; protoplasm ), specialized in chemical terminology to denote the first of a series of compounds, or the one containing the minimum amount of an element.

proto-

combining form

indicating the first in time, order, or rank
protomartyr
primitive, ancestral, or original
prototype
indicating the reconstructed earliest stage of a language
Proto-Germanic
indicating the first in a series of chemical compounds
protoxide
indicating the parent of a chemical compound or an element
protactinium

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of proto-¹

< Greek, combining form representing ��ô�ٴǲ� first, superlative formed from ��ó; pro- ²

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of proto-¹

from Greek ��ō�ٴǲ� first, from pro before; see _pro- ²

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

One of the most sublime examples of the form traces back to Anton Chekhov’s wordless short play, “The Sneeze,” a proto-“SNL” skit about a man who accidentally wheezes on the back of a government official’s neck and in his escalating desperation to normalize his oopsie suffers a breakdown and dies.

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I often have visions of these characters in this rain-drenched, neon-lit city where there are proto goths hanging on street corners looking for something to do.

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That bassline is the proto hip-hop.

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Although I featured Proto’s newer, round-bowl Rocket pipe in a long-ago gift guide, I figured it was high time to give the original design its due.

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“Reality TV is almost always about reflecting our worries, obsessions and aspirations,” says David Nussbaum, whose firm Proto is behind the AI technology.

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When To Use

What does proto- mean?

Proto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “first,” "foremost,” or “earliest form of.” In terms from chemistry, it specifically denotes the first in a series of compounds or the compound containing the minimum amount of an element. It is often used in scientific and technical terms, especially in biology.Proto- comes from Greek ��ô�ٴǲ�, meaning “first.” The word proton, meaning "a positively charged elementary particle," ultimately shares this same Greek root. The Latin cognate of ��ô�ٴǲ� is ��ī��ܲ� “first,” which is the source of primary and prime. Check out our entries for both words to learn more.What are variants of proto-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, proto- becomes prot-, as in protium. Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use prot- article.

protium protoactinium

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