an expression or declaration of objection, disapproval, or dissent, often in opposition to something a person is powerless to prevent or avoid: a protest against increased taxation.
2.
Commerce.
a.
a formal notarial certificate attesting the fact that a check, note, or bill of exchange has been presented for acceptance or payment and that it has been refused.
b.
the action taken to fix the liability for a dishonored bill of exchange or note.
3.
Law.
a.
(upon one's payment of a tax or other state or city exaction) a formal statement disputing the legality of the demand.
b.
a written and attested declaration made by the master of a ship stating the circumstances under which some damage has happened to the ship or cargo, or other circumstances involving the liability of the officers, crew, etc.
4.
Sports. a formal objection or complaint made to an official.
–verb (used without object)
5.
to give manifest expression to objection or disapproval; remonstrate.
6.
to make solemn or earnest declaration.
–verb (used with object)
7.
to make a protest or remonstrance against; object to.
8.
to say in protest or remonstrance.
9.
to declare solemnly or earnestly; affirm; assert.
10.
to make a formal declaration of the nonacceptance or nonpayment of (a bill of exchange or note).
11.
Obsolete. to call to witness.
[Origin: 1350–1400; (n.) ME < MF (F protêt), deriv. of protester to protest < L prōtestārī to declare publicly, equiv. to prō-pro-1+ testārī to testify, deriv. of testis a witness; (v.) late ME protesten < MF protester]
—Related forms
pro·test·a·ble, adjective
pro·test·er, pro·tes·tor, noun
pro·test·ing·ly, adverb
pro·test·ive, adjective
—Synonyms 5. complain. 6. asseverate, avow, aver, attest. See declare.
To object to, especially in a formal statement. See Synonyms at object.
To promise or affirm with earnest solemnity: "He continually protested his profound respect"(Frank Norris).
Law To declare (a bill) dishonored or refused.
Archaic To proclaim or make known: "unrough youths that even now/Protest their first of manhood"(Shakespeare).
v.
intr.
To express strong objection.
To make an earnest avowal or affirmation.
n.
(prō'těst')
A formal declaration of disapproval or objection issued by a concerned person, group, or organization.
An individual or collective gesture or display of disapproval.
Law
A formal statement drawn up by a notary for a creditor declaring that the debtor has refused to accept or honor a bill.
A formal declaration made by a taxpayer stating that the tax demanded is illegal or excessive and reserving the right to contest it.
[Middle English protesten, from Old French protester, from Latin prōtestārī : prō-, forth; see pro-1 + testārī, to testify (from testis, witness; see trei- in Indo-European roots).]
1340 (implied in protestation) "solemn declaration," from L. protestari "declare publicly, testify, protest," from pro- "forth, before" + testari "testify," from testis "witness" (see testament). Original sense preserved in to protest one's innocence. Meaning "statement of disapproval" first recorded 1751; that of "expressing of dissent from, or rejection of, prevailing mores" is from 1953, in ref. to U.S. black civil rights movement. The verb is attested from 1440, "to declare or state formally or solemnly," from O.Fr. protester. First record of protest march is from 1959. Protester "demonstrator, public opponent of the established order" is from 1960.
a formal and solemn declaration of objection; "they finished the game under protest to the league president"; "the senator rose to register his protest"; "the many protestations did not stay the execution"
2.
the act of protesting; a public (often organized) manifestation of dissent
3.
the act of making a strong public expression of disagreement and disapproval; "he shouted his protests at the umpire"; "a shower of protest was heard from the rear of the hall"
verb
1.
utter words of protest
2.
express opposition through action or words; "dissent to the laws of the country"
3.
affirm or avow formally or solemnly; "The suspect protested his innocence"
Af*firm"\ ([a^]f*f[~e]rm"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affirmed (-f[~e]rmd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Affirming.] [OE. affermen, OF. afermer, F. affirmer, affermir, fr. L. affirmare; ad + firmare to make firm, firmus firm. See Firm.]1. To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; esp. (Law), to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought before an appellate court for review. 2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to maintain as true; -- opposed to deny. Jesus, . . . whom Paul affirmed to be alive. --Acts xxv. 19. 3. (Law) To declare, as a fact, solemnly, under judicial sanction. See Affirmation, 4. Syn: To assert; aver; declare; asseverate; assure; pronounce; protest; avouch; confirm; establish; ratify. Usage: To Affirm, Asseverate, Aver, Protest. We affirm when we declare a thing as a fact or a proposition. We asseverate it in a peculiarly earnest manner, or with increased positiveness as what can not be disputed. We aver it, or formally declare it to be true, when we have positive knowledge of it. We protest in a more public manner and with the energy of perfect sincerity. People asseverate in order to produce a conviction of their veracity; they aver when they are peculiarly desirous to be believed; they protest when they wish to free themselves from imputations, or to produce a conviction of their innocence.
Pro*test"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Protested; p. pr. & vb. n. Protesting.] [F. protester, L. protestari, pro before + testari to be a witness, testis a witness. See Testify.]1. To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow. He protest that his measures are pacific. --Landor. The lady doth protest too much, methinks. --Shak. 2. To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of opposition; -- with against; as, he protest against your votes. --Denham. The conscience has power . . . to protest againts the exorbitancies of the passions. --Shak. Syn: To affirm; asseverate; assert; aver; attest; testify; declare; profess. See Affirm.
Pro*test"\, v. t. 1. To make a solemn declaration or affirmation of; to proclaim; to display; as, to protest one's loyalty. I will protest your cowardice. --Shak. 2. To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to. Fiercely [they] opposed My journey strange, with clamorous uproar Protesting fate supreme. --Milton. To protest a bill or note (Law), to make a solemn written declaration, in due form, on behalf of the holder, against all parties liable for any loss or damage to be sustained by the nonacceptance or the nonpayment of the bill or note, as the case may be. This should be made by a notary public, whose seal it is the usual practice to affix. --Kent. Story.
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