Part 619

Pro"tist (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Protista.

||Pro*tis"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. prw`tistos first.] (Zoˆl.) A ||provisional group in which are placed a number of low microscopic ||organisms of doubtful nature. Some are probably plants, others ||animals.

||Pro*tis"ton (?), n.; pl. Protista (#). [NL.] (Zoˆl.) One of the ||Protista.

Pro"to- (?). [Gr. prw^tos first, a superl. fr. pro` before. See Pro-.] 1. A combining form prefix signifying first, primary, primordial; as, protomartyr, the first martyr; protomorphic, primitive in form; protoplast, a primordial organism; prototype, protozoan.

2. (Chem.) (a) Denoting the first or lowest of a series, or the one having the smallest amount of the element to the name of which it is prefixed; as protoxide, protochloride, etc. (b) Sometimes used as equivalent to mono-, as indicating that the compound has but one atom of the element to the name of which it is prefixed. Also used adjectively.

Pro`to*ca*non"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to the first canon, or that which contains the authorized collection of the books of Scripture; -- opposed to deutero- canonical.

Pro`to*cat`e*chu"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, an organic acid which is obtained as a white crystalline substance from catechin, asafetida, oil of cloves, etc., and by distillation itself yields pyrocatechin.

Pro`to*cer"cal (?), a. [Proto- + Gr. &?; the tail.] (Zoˆl.) Having a caudal fin extending around the end of the vertebral column, like that which is first formed in the embryo of fishes; diphycercal.

||Pro`to*coc"cus (?), n. [NL. See Proto-, and Coccus.] (Bot.) A genus ||of minute unicellular algÊ including the red snow plant (Protococcus ||nivalis).

Pro"to*col (?), n. [F. protocole, LL. protocollum, fr. Gr. &?; the first leaf glued to the rolls of papyrus and the notarial documents, on which the date was written; prw^tos the first (see Proto-) + &?; glue.] 1. The original copy of any writing, as of a deed, treaty, dispatch, or other instrument. Burrill.

2. The minutes, or rough draught, of an instrument or transaction.

3. (Diplomacy) (a) A preliminary document upon the basis of which negotiations are carried on. (b) A convention not formally ratified. (c) An agreement of diplomatists indicating the results reached by them at a particular stage of a negotiation.

Pro"to*col, v. t. To make a protocol of.

Pro"to*col, v. i. To make or write protocols, or first draughts; to issue protocols. Carlyle.

Pro"to*col`ist, n. One who draughts protocols.

Pro"to*conch (?), n. [Proto- + conch.] (Zoˆl.) The embryonic shell, or first chamber, of ammonites and other cephalopods.

Pro`to-Dor*ic (?), a. [Proto- + Doric.] (Arch.) Pertaining to, or designating, architecture, in which the beginnings of the Doric style are supposed to be found.

Pro"to*gine (?), n. [Proto- + root of Gr. &?; to be born: cf. F. protogyne.] (Min.) A kind of granite or gneiss containing a silvery talcose mineral.

Pro*tog"y*nous (?), a. [Proto + Gr. gynh` a woman.] (Bot.) Same as Proterogynous.

||Pro`to*hip"pus (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; first + &?; horse.] ||(Paleon.) A genus of fossil horses from the Lower Pliocene. They had ||three toes on each foot, the lateral ones being small.

Pro"to*mar`tyr (?), n. [LL., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; first + &?; martyr: cf. F. protomartyr. See Proto- , and Martyr.] The first martyr; the first who suffers, or is sacrificed, in any cause; -- applied esp. to Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Pro`to*mer"ite (?), n. [Proto- + -mere + -ite.] (Zoˆl.) The second segment of one of the GregarinÊ.

Pro`to*mor"phic (?), a. [Proto- + Gr. &?; form.] (Biol.) Having the most primitive character; in the earliest form; as, a protomorphic layer of tissue. H. Spencer.

||Pro`to*ne"ma (?), n.; pl. Protonemata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; first + ||&?;, &?;, a thread.] (Bot.) The primary growth from the spore of a ||moss, usually consisting of branching confervoid filaments, on any ||part of which stem and leaf buds may be developed.

Pro*ton"o*ta*ry (?), n. Same as Prothonotary.

Pro`to*ˆr"gan*ism (?), n. [Proto- + organism.] (Biol.) An organism whose nature is so difficult to determine that it might be referred to either the animal or the vegetable kingdom.

||Pro`to*pap"as (&?;), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; a chief priest.] (Gr. Ch.) ||A protopope.

Pro"to*phyte (?), n. [Proto- + Gr. &?; a plant.] (Bot.) Any unicellular plant, or plant forming only a plasmodium, having reproduction only by fission, gemmation, or cell division.