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.
Protocanonical
(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.
Protocatechuic
(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.
Protocercal
(Pro`to*cer"cal) a. [Proto- + Gr. the tail.] (Zoöl.) Having a caudal fin extending around the
end of the vertebral column, like that which is first formed in the embryo of fishes; diphycercal.
Protococcus
(||Pro`to*coc"cus) n. [NL. See Proto-, and Coccus.] (Bot.) A genus of minute unicellular
algæ including the red snow plant
Protocol
(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.
Protocol
(Pro"to*col), v. t. To make a protocol of.
Protocol
(Pro"to*col), v. i. To make or write protocols, or first draughts; to issue protocols. Carlyle.
Protocolist
(Pro"to*col`ist), n. One who draughts protocols.
Protoconch
(Pro"to*conch) n. [Proto- + conch.] (Zoöl.) The embryonic shell, or first chamber, of ammonites
and other cephalopods.
Proto-Doric
(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.
Protogine
(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.
Protogynous
(Pro*tog"y*nous) a. [Proto + Gr. gynh` a woman.] (Bot.) Same as Proterogynous.
Protohippus
(||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.
Protomartyr
(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.
Protomerite
(Pro`to*mer"ite) n. [Proto- + -mere + -ite.] (Zoöl.) The second segment of one of the Gregarinæ.
