protasis

American  

[prot-uh-sis] / ˈprɒt ə sɪs /

noun

plural

protases

1. Grammar. the clause expressing the condition in a conditional sentence, in English usually beginning with if.

2. the first part of an ancient drama, in which the characters are introduced and the subject is proposed.

3. (in Aristotelian logic) a proposition, especially one used as a premise in a syllogism.

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protasis British  

/ ˈprɒtəsɪs, prɒˈtætɪk /

noun

1. logic grammar the antecedent of a conditional statement, such as it rains in if it rains the game will be cancelled Compare apodosis

2. (in classical drama) the introductory part of a play

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Other Word Forms

• protatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of protasis

First recorded in 1610–20; from Late Latin: “introduction in a drama,” from Greek prótasis “proposition,” literally, “a stretching forward,” equivalent to pro- pro- ² + tásis a stretching ( ta-, verbid stem of teínein “to stretch” + -sis -sis )

Example Sentences

“Here we catch a glimpse of the subjunctive in a conditional protasis shyly rising its timorous head above the narrative parapet.”

From The Guardian • Sep. 5, 2019

To borrow a term from the Greek grammars, the protasis of the repartee is more troublesome than the apodosis.

From Without Prejudice by Zangwill, Israel

Imperative, 281; —— tenses in, 94, 3; 281, 1; —— future indic. with force of, 261, 3. —— as protasis of a conditional sent.,

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)

The protasis in Conditional Sentences of this type always remains unchanged.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)

The consequent clause or conclusion in a conditional sentence, expressing the result, and thus distinguished from the protasis or clause which expresses a condition.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah