Word Study
proto-
CIDE DICTIONARY
proto-, [Gr. prw^tos first, a superl. fr. pro` before. See Pro-.].
- A combining form prefix signifying first, primary, primordial; as, protomartyr, the first martyr; protomorphic, primitive in form; protoplast, a primordial organism; prototype, protozoan. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
proto-, comb. form 1 original, primitive (proto-Germanic; proto-Slavic).
2 first, original (protomartyr; protophyte).
2 first, original (protomartyr; protophyte).
Etymology
Gk proto- f. protos first
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