protasis Meaning, Definition & Usage

Prot"a*sis noun

Etymology

L., fr. Gr. , fr. to stretch before, forward; before + to stretch.

Definitions

1. A proposition; a maxim. Johnson.
2. (Gram.) The introductory or subordinate member of a sentence, generally of a conditional sentence; -- opposed to apodosis. See Apodosis.
3. The first part of a drama, of a poem, or the like; the introduction; opposed to epitasis. B. Jonson.