n. [ Gr. 'a`kros extreme + teley`th end. ] (Eccles.) The end of a verse or psalm, or something added thereto, to be sung by the people, by way of a response. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. acrotère. See Acroterium. ] (Arch.) Same as Acroterium. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to an acroterium; as, acroterial ornaments. P. Cyc. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Acroteria [ L., fr. Gr. 'akrwth`rion summit, fr. 'a`kros topmost. ] (Arch.) (a) One of the small pedestals, for statues or other ornaments, placed on the apex and at the basal angles of a pediment. Acroteria are also sometimes placed upon the gables in Gothic architecture. J. H. Parker. (b) One of the pedestals, for vases or statues, forming a part roof balustrade. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A secret organization in the United States, formed in Iowa in 1887, ostensibly for the protection of American institutions by keeping Roman Catholics out of public office. Abbrev. commonly to A. P .A. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Brittle. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Brittleness. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Com.) A tierce or cask for dried fruits, etc., usually about 700 lbs. Simmonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] See Cerate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cerotum a pomade. See Cerate. ] (Chem.) A white waxy solid obtained from Chinese wax, and by the distillation of cerotin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; question. ] A mark indicating a question; a note of interrogation. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; a questioning, fr. &unr_; to ask. ] (Rhet.) A figure of speech by which a strong affirmation of the contrary, is implied under the form of an earnest interrogation, as in the following lines; - [ 1913 Webster ]

Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? Shak.

v. t. [ F. frotter. ] To rub or wear by rubbing; to chafe. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who frotes; one who rubs or chafes. [ Obs. ] Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. garrote, from garra claw, talon, of Celtic origin; cf. Armor. & W. gar leg, ham, shank. Cf. Garrot stick, Garter. ] A Spanish mode of execution by strangulation, with an iron collar affixed to a post and tightened by a screw until life become extinct. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The instrument by means of which the garrote{ 1 } is inflicted.
Syn. -- garrote, garotte, iron collar. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

3. Hence: A short length of rope or other instrument used to strangle a person. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Garroted; p. pr. & vb. n. Garroting. ] To strangle with the garrote; hence, to seize by the throat, from behind, with a view to strangle and rob. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who seizes a person by the throat from behind, with a view to strangle and rob him. [ 1913 Webster ]

/mhw>, n. A groat. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F., fr. It. grottesco, fr. grotta grotto. See Grotto. ] 1. Like the figures found in ancient grottoes; grottolike. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Wildly or strangely formed; whimsical; extravagant; of irregular forms and proportions; fantastic; ludicrous; antic. “Grotesque design.” Dryden. “Grotesque incidents.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A whimsical figure, or scene, such as is found in old crypts and grottoes. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Artificial grotto-work. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a grotesque manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being grotesque. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also grotesquerie. ] [ From Grotesque. ] Grotesque action, speech, or manners; grotesque doings; ludicrous or incongruous unnaturalness or distortion. “The sustained grotesquery of Feather-top.” K. L. Bates.
Syn. -- grotesqueness. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ]

Vileness, on the other hand, becomes grotesquerie, wonderfully converted into a subject of laughter. George Gissing. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Hemi- + protein. ] (Physiol. Chem.) An insoluble, proteid substance, described by Schützenberger, formed when albumin is heated for some time with dilute sulphuric acid. It is apparently identical with antialbumid and dyspeptone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A salt formed by the union of hydrotelluric acid and the base. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Hydro-, 2 + telluric. ] (Chem.) Formed by hydrogen and tellurium; as, hydrotelluric acid, or hydrogen telluride. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ NL., fr. Gr. "y`steros the latter, following + pro`teros before, others, sooner.] (Rhet.) (a) A figure in which the natural order of sense is reversed; hysterology; as, valet atque vivit, “he is well and lives.” (b) An inversion of logical order, in which the conclusion is put before the premises, or the thing proved before the evidence. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. lac, lactis, milk + E. protein. ] (Physiol. Chem.) A peculiar albuminous body considered a normal constituent of milk. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. (spurious) my^kos mucus (L. mucus) + E. protein. ] (Biol.) The protoplasmic matter of which bacteria are composed. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who simply repeats what he has heard. [ R. ] J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Proteus. ] (Bot.) Of or pertaining to the Proteaceæ, an order of apetalous evergreen shrubs, mostly natives of the Cape of Good Hope or of Australia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to Proteus; characteristic of Proteus. “ Protean transformations.” Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exceedingly variable; readily assuming different shapes or forms; as, an amœba is a protean animalcule. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a protean manner. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Protected; p. pr. & vb. n. Protecting. ] [ L. protectus, p. p. of protegere, literally, to cover in front; pro before + tegere to cover. See Tegument. ] To cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend; to guard; to preserve in safety; as, a father protects his children. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gods of Greece protect you! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To guard; shield; preserve. See Defend. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By way of protection; in a protective manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. protectio: cf. F. protection. ] 1. The act of protecting, or the state of being protected; preservation from loss, injury, or annoyance; defense; shelter; as, the weak need protection. [ 1913 Webster ]

To your protection I commend me, gods. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which protects or preserves from injury; a defense; a shield; a refuge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let them rise up . . . and be your protection. Deut. xxxii. 38. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A writing that protects or secures from molestation or arrest; a pass; a safe-conduct; a passport. [ 1913 Webster ]

He . . . gave them protections under his hand. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Polit. Econ.) A theory, or a policy, of protecting the producers in a country from foreign competition in the home market by the imposition of such discriminating duties on goods of foreign production as will restrict or prevent their importation; -- opposed to free trade. [ 1913 Webster ]

Writ of protection. (Law) (a) A writ by which the king formerly exempted a person from arrest; -- now disused. [ Eng. ] Blackstone. (b) A judicial writ issued to a person required to attend court, as party, juror, etc., intended to secure him from arrest in coming, staying, and returning. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Preservation; defense; guard; shelter; refuge; security; safety. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Polit. Econ.) The doctrine or policy of protectionists. See Protection, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Polit. Econ.) One who favors protection. See Protection, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. protectif. ] Affording protection; sheltering; defensive. “ The favor of a protective Providence.” Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]

Protective coloring (Zool.), coloring which serves for the concealment and preservation of a living organism. Cf. Mimicry. Wallace. --
Protective tariff (Polit. Econ.), a tariff designed to secure protection (see Protection, 4.), as distinguished from a tariff designed to raise revenue. See Tariff, and Protection, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being protective. W. Pater. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L.: cf. F. protecteur. ] 1. One who, or that which, defends or shields from injury, evil, oppression, etc.; a defender; a guardian; a patron. [ 1913 Webster ]

For the world's protector shall be known. Waller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eng. Hist.) One having the care of the kingdom during the king's minority; a regent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Is it concluded he shall be protector ! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (R. C. Ch.) A cardinal, from one of the more considerable Roman Catholic nations, who looks after the interests of his people at Rome; also, a cardinal who has the same relation to a college, religious order, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lord Protector (Eng. Hist.), the title of Oliver Cromwell as supreme governor of the British Commonwealth (1653-1658). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to a protector; protectorial; as, protectoral power. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. protectorat. ] 1. Government by a protector; -- applied especially to the government of England by Oliver Cromwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The authority assumed by a superior power over an inferior or a dependent one, whereby the former protects the latter from invasion and shares in the management of its affairs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. L. protectorius. ] Same as Protectoral. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no protector; unprotected. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office of a protector or regent; protectorate. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ NL. protectrix. ] A woman who protects. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖n. m. ‖n. f. } [ F., p. p. of protéger. See Protect. ] One under the care and protection of another, especially one receiving counseling and assistance in career development. [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]

n. [ Gr. prw^tos first. ] (Physiol. Chem.) An older, imprecise term replaced by protein.
Proteid was defined in the 1913 Webster as “One of a class of amorphous nitrogenous principles, containing, as a rule, a small amount of sulphur; an albuminoid, as blood fibrin, casein of milk, etc. Proteids are present in nearly all animal fluids and make up the greater part of animal tissues and organs. They are also important constituents of vegetable tissues. See 2d Note under Food.” -- Pro"te*id, a.
Syn. -- protein. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Defensive proteid (Physiol. Chem.), one of a class of proteid substances, present in some animal tissues and fluids, that make the body immune to certain infectious diseases by destroying or rendering inactive the toxic products of bacterial growth; -- this is an older term replaced by more precise modern immunological concepts such as antibody and immunoglobulin. [archaic] [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Proteus, and -oid. ] (Zool.) An order of aquatic amphibians having prominent external gills and four legs. It includes Proteus and Menobranchus (Necturus). Called also Proteoidea, and Proteida. [ 1913 Webster ]