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Webster 1913 Edition

Protect

Pro-tect′

,
Verb.
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
.
The gods of Greece
protect
you!
Shakespeare
Syn. – To guard; shield; preserve. See
Defend
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Protect

PROTECT'

,
Verb.
T.
[L.protectus, protego; pro and tego; to cover; Gr. with a prefix; Eng. deck. See Deck.] To cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend; to guard; to preserve in safety; a word of general import both in a literal and figurative sense. Walls protect a city or garrison; clothing is designed to protect the body from cold; arms may protect one from an assault; our houses protect us from the inclemencies of the weather; the law protects our persons and property; the father protects his children, and the guardian his ward; a shade protects us from extreme heat; a navy protects our commerce and our shores; embassadors are protected from arrest.

Definition 2024

protect

protect

English

Verb

protect ‎(third-person singular simple present protects, present participle protecting, simple past and past participle protected)

  1. To keep safe; to defend; to guard; to prevent harm coming to.
    • 2012 March 1, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 87:
      But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology

Attested in English since 1530, from Latin protectus ‎(“covered, protected”), past participle of protegere ‎(“to cover the front, protect”) from pro- + tegere ‎(“to cover”). More at thatch. Displaced native Middle English helien, forhelian ‎(“to conceal, protect”) (from Old English helian, forhelian ‎(“to conceal, cover, hide”), Middle English bischilden, beschielden ‎(“to protect”) (from Middle English schild, shelde ‎(“shield”)), Middle English berwen, bergen ‎(“to protect, preserve”) (from Old English beorgan ‎(“to protect, preserve”)), Middle English mundien, mounden ‎(“to protect”) (from Old English mundian ‎(“to protect, watch over, act as guardian over”)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pɹəˈtɛkt/
  • Rhymes: -ɛkt

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