Protasis

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈprÉ’tÉ™sɪs/

Origin

From Late Latin, from Ancient Greek πρότασις, from προτείνω (proteino, "put forward, tender, propose"), from πρό + τείνω (teino, "stretch").

Full definition of protasis

Noun

1. the first part of a play, in which the setting and characters are introduced
• 1922, James Joyce, UlyssesIt doubles itself in the middle of his life, reflects itself in another, repeats itself, protasis, epitasis, catastasis, catastrophe.
2. (logic, grammar) the antecedent in a conditional sentenceIn, "I will be coming if this weather holds up", "this weather holds up" is the protasis

Synonyms

• (logic, grammar) antecedent, conditional, hypothesis