protest
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɹəʊ.tɛst/
enpr: prōʹtĕst
ipa: /ˈpɹoʊ.tɛst/
enpr: prə.tĕstʹ
ipa: /pɹəˈtɛst/
rhymes: -ɛst
Forms: form: protests
form: protesting
form: protested
form: protested
Etymology: PIE word
 *tréyes
From the Middle English verb protesten, from Old French protester, from Latin prōtestārī, from prō + testor, from testis (“witness”).
Senses: examples: text: How dare you, I protest!
text: The public took to the streets to protest over the planned change to the law.
text: As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.
ref: 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:
text: U.S. and European protested against Spanish conduct in Cuba.
ref: 2009, Cuba:
text: On November 29 1952, a special train ran from Sunderland to Leeds for Christmas shoppers and those attending a Leeds vs. Brentford match. It caused controversy, with Sunderland traders protesting that their shops were just as good as those in Leeds.
ref: 2023 December 27, David Turner, “Silent lines...”, in RAIL, number 999, page 29:
glosses: To make a strong objection.
examples: text: I protest my innocence.
text: I do protest and declare …
text: I will protest your cowardice.
ref: 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
text: Our youth, now, emboldened with his success, resolved to push the matter farther, and ventured even to beg her recommendation of him to her father's service; protesting that he thought him one of the honestest fellows in the country, and extremely well qualified for the place of a gamekeeper, which luckily then happened to be vacant.
ref: 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
text: She flashed a smile at me, and, protesting an engagement with her dentist, jauntily walked on.
ref: 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “Ch.8”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:
glosses: To affirm (something).
examples: text: "The gay community would love to point to Patti and say, 'She's one of us'" […] I protest the statement I have mentioned, as well as others like it. Few people I know, gay or straight, identify with the often outrageous thoughts of Patti Smith. Among other things, she's indicated in interviews that she thinks violence and rape are dandy experiences.
ref: 1976 February 14, Joan DeForeest, “Irresponsible Inaccuracies Infuriate”, in Gay Community News, volume 3, number 33, page 5:
glosses: To object to.
examples: text: They protested the demolition of the school.
glosses: To publicly demonstrate against.
examples: text: Fiercely [they] opposed / My journey strange, with clamorous uproar / Protesting fate supreme.
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
glosses: To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to.
topics: law
glosses: to make a solemn written declaration, in due form, on behalf of the holder, against all parties liable for any loss or damage to be sustained by non-acceptance or non-payment of (a bill or note). This should be made by a notary public, whose seal it is the usual practice to affix.
glosses: To publish; to make known.