Part 593

||Pro*ˆs"tra*cum (?), n.; pl. Proˆstraca (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; before ||+ &?; shell of a testacean.] (Zoˆl.) The anterior prolongation of the ||guard of the phragmocone of belemnites and allied fossil cephalopods, ||whether horny or calcareous. See Illust. of Phragmocone.

Pro*ˆ"tic (?), a. [Pref. pro- + Gr. &?;, &?;, an ear.] (Anat.) In front of the auditory capsule; -- applied especially to a bone, or center of ossification, in the periotic capsule. -- n. A proˆtic bone.

Prop (?), n. A shell, used as a die. See Props.

Prop (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Propping.] [Akin to LG. & D. proppen to cram, stuff, thrust into, stop, G. pfropfen, Dan. proppe, Sw. proppa; of uncertain origin, cf. G. pfropfen to graft, fr. L. propago set, layer of a plant, slip, shoot. Cf. 3d. Prop, Propagate.] To support, or prevent from falling, by placing something under or against; as, to prop up a fence or an old building; (Fig.) to sustain; to maintain; as, to prop a declining state. Shak.

Till the bright mountains prop the incumbent sky.

Pope.

For being not propp'd by ancestry.

Shak.

I prop myself upon those few supports that are left me.

Pope.

Prop, n. [Akin to LG., D., & Dan. prop stopple, stopper, cork, Sw. propp, G. pfropf. See Prop, v.] That which sustains an incumbent weight; that on which anything rests or leans for support; a support; a stay; as, a prop for a building. "Two props of virtue." Shak.

{ Pro`pÊ*deu"tic (?), Pro`pÊ*deu"tic*al (?) }, a. [Gr. &?; to teach beforehand; &?; before + &?; to bring up a child, to educate, teach, fr. &?;, &?;, a child.] Of, pertaining to, or conveying, preliminary instruction; introductory to any art or science; instructing beforehand.

Pro`pÊ*deu"tics (?), n. The preliminary learning connected with any art or science; preparatory instruction.

Prop"a*ga*ble (?), a. [See Propagate.]

1. Capable of being propagated, or of being continued or multiplied by natural generation or production.

2. Capable of being spread or extended by any means; -- said of tenets, doctrines, or principles.

Prop`a*gan"da (?), n. [Abbrev. fr. L. de propaganda fide: cf. F. propagande. See Propagate.]

1. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A congregation of cardinals, established in 1622, charged with the management of missions. (b) The college of the Propaganda, instituted by Urban VIII. (1623-1644) to educate priests for missions in all parts of the world.

2. Hence, any organization or plan for spreading a particular doctrine or a system of principles.

Prop`a*gan"dism (?), n. [Cf. F. propagandisme.] The art or practice of propagating tenets or principles; zeal in propagating one's opinions.

Prop`a*gan"dist (?), n. [Cf. F. propagandiste.] A person who devotes himself to the spread of any system of principles. "Political propagandists." Walsh.

Prop"a*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Propagated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Propagating.] [L. propagatus, p. p. of propagare to propagate, akin to propages, propago, a layer of a plant, slip, shoot. See Pro-, and cf. Pact, Prop, Prune, v. t.]

1. To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production; -- applied to animals and plants; as, to propagate a breed of horses or sheep; to propagate a species of fruit tree.

2. To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space; as, to propagate sound or light.

3. To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate; as, to propagate a story or report; to propagate the Christian religion.

The infection was propagated insensibly.

De Foe.

4. To multiply; to increase. [Obs.]