protest definition | Dictionary.com

pro⋅test

[n. proh-test; v. pruh-test, proh-test]

–noun

1.	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.

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.

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.

Antonyms:
1. approval. 5. approve.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To protest

pro·test (prə-těst', prō-, prō'těst')

v. pro·test·ed, pro·test·ing, pro·tests

v. tr.

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
1. A formal statement drawn up by a notary for a creditor declaring that the debtor has refused to accept or honor a bill.
2. 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).]
pro'test'er n., pro·test'ing·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Protest

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.

Protest

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.

Protest

Pro"test\, n. [Cf. F. prot[^e]t, It. protesto. See Protest, v.]

1. A solemn declaration of opinion, commonly a formal objection against some act; especially, a formal and solemn declaration, in writing, of dissent from the proceedings of a legislative body; as, the protest of lords in Parliament.

2. (Law) (a) A solemn declaration in writing, in due form, made by a notary public, usually under his notarial seal, on behalf of the holder of a bill or note, protesting against all parties liable for any loss or damage by the nonacceptance or nonpayment of the bill, or by the nonpayment of the note, as the case may be. (b) A declaration made by the master of a vessel before a notary, consul, or other authorized officer, upon his arrival in port after a disaster, stating the particulars of it, and showing that any damage or loss sustained was not owing to the fault of the vessel, her officers or crew, but to the perils of the sea, etc., ads the case may be, and protesting against them. (c) A declaration made by a party, before or while paying a tax, duty, or the like, demanded of him, which he deems illegal, denying the justice of the demand, and asserting his rights and claims, in order to show that the payment was not voluntary. --Story. --Kent.

Language Translation for : protest

Spanish: protestar (contra),

German: protestieren,

Japanese: 抗議する

More Translations »

protest

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.

Main Entry: pro·test
Function: noun
1 : a solemn declaration of opinion and usually of disagreement: as a : a solemn written declaration by a notary public or U.S. consul on behalf of the holder of an instrument (as a note) announcing dishonor and declaring the liability of all parties to the instrument for any loss or damage arising from such action; also : the action of making or causing to be made such a declaration with due service of notice of dishonor b : a declaration made by the master of a ship before a notary, consul, or other authorized officer upon arrival in port after a disaster declaring that any loss was not the fault of the crew but due to the disaster c : a declaration made by a party esp. before or while paying a tax or performing a demanded act by which the declarer asserts that the justice or legality of the tax or act is disputed and that compliance is not voluntary
2 : the act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval; especially : a usually organized public demonstration of disapproval —protest verb —under protest : with noted objections (as of insufficient payment) and claims under protest>

Main Entry: protest
—see MASCULINE PROTEST

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