proto-

prefix

No English definition recorded for this entry.

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹəʊ.təʊ/ / /pɹoʊ.toʊ/ / [pɹoʊ.ɾoʊ]

prefix

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *próder. Ancient Greek πρό (pró) Ancient Greek -ᾰτος (-ătos) Ancient Greek πρῶτος (prôtos) Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-)lbor. English proto- Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-), combination form of πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”), superlative of πρό (pró, “before”).

An early, primitive stage of development.
“protophysics, protometal, protoword”
“I had heard of Caturday when I wrote the piece, but I’d understood that it was a proto-lolcats practice that was different from the actual lolcats meme.”
Original, older.
“protograph, protolacteal, prototype, protoplasm”
First in order; which stage is first.
“protogynous, protandrous”
Primary.
“protoderm, protocneme”
Most recent common ancestor (often hypothetical) of.
“All Indo-European languages from Albanian to Zazaki are descended from Proto-Indo-European.”
A minimal proportion of a particular substance when in a combination. See protosalt.
“protoxide, protosulfide, protiodide”
Relating to protons and/or positive charge.
“protophilic, protolysis”
A proto-metal.
“proto-calcium; proto-magnesium”
Anterior.
“prototroch, protoconid, protoconule”