pro-form

[ proh-fawrm ]

/ ˈproʊˌfɔrm /

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noun Grammar.

a word used to replace or substitute for a word, phrase, or clause belonging to a given grammatical class, as a pronoun used to replace a noun or noun phrase, there used to replace an adverb or adverbial phrase of place, as in I parked the car near the entrance and left it there, or so used to substitute for a clause, as in Have they come? I think so.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pro-form

First recorded in 1960–65

Words nearby pro-form

profit taking, profit warning, profligacy, profligate, profluent, pro-form, pro forma, pro forma invoice, profound, profoundly, profoundly deaf

How to use pro-form in a sentence

He accordingly sent in his request to the Elector, which he considered a mere pro-form matter.
Louis Spohr's Autobiography|Louis Spohr
He then suspended the magistrates pro form, and spoke of sending for troops to catch the rioters!
The Englishman in China During the Victorian Era, Vol. II (of 2)|Alexander Michie
He got his twelve strokes pro form, after which they fell into each others arms perfectly happy.
The Ancient Cities of the New World|Dsir Charnay
The captain enters the room and pro form asks whether there are "any complaints?"
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places|Archibald Forbes

British Dictionary definitions for pro-form

pro-form

noun

a word having grammatical function but assuming the meaning of an antecedent word or phrase for which it substitutesthe word ``does'' is a pro-form for ``understands Greek'' in ``I can't understand Greek but he does''

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012