protasis noun. ['prɒtǝsɪs] Pl. -ases [-ǝsi:z]. M16.
[Latin from Greek, from proteinein put forward, tender, formed as PRO-² + teinein stretch.]
1. The first part of a play, in which the characters and the subject are introduced, preceding the epitasis and the catastrophe. M16.

2. Grammar & Rhetoric. The first or introductory clause in a sentence; spec. the clause expressing the condition in a conditional sentence. Opp. APODOSIS. L16.

3. Something which is put forward; a proposition, a maxim. rare. M17.

■ pro'tatic adjective of or pertaining to the protasis; spec. designating a character appearing only in the protasis of a play: M17.

■ pro'tatically adverb (rare) in the protasis M19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲