protest English · revision 5118

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1400|origins=la protestari}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: noun UK /ˈprəʊ.test/, US /ˈproʊ.test/; verb UK /prəˈtest/, /prəʊˈtest/, US /proʊˈtest/, /prəˈtest/, /ˈproʊ.test/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|protest]], [[bor|fro|protest]], from protester,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|prōtestārī|t=to declare publicly, testify]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from prō- “forth, before” and testārī “to testify”, from testis “witness”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[testament]], [[testify]], [[attest]] and [[Protestant]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A solemn declaration, an avowal: about 1400 in the OED, Etymonline and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, to vow, is from 1430, and to declare solemnly from 1440.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The original sense of the verb survives in ''to protest one's innocence''.^(Etymonline) Making a formal declaration against an act or measure is from about 1600,^(Etymonline) and “to object, dissent” from 1608.^(Barnhart 1988) In banking, the formal action fixing liability for a dishonoured bill is from 1622.^(OED 1989) A written statement of dissent by members of the House of Lords is from 1712,^(OED 1989) and the noun “a statement of disapproval” is from 1751.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Its association with marches and rallies arose in the 20th century: ''protest vote'' is by 1905,^(Etymonline) ''protest march'' by 1942 in the American civil rights movement,^(Etymonline) and ''protest rally'' from 1960.^(Etymonline) The name ''Protestant'' was first given to those who joined in a protest at the Diet of Spires in 1529.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1400 – a solemn declaration.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1440 – verb, to declare solemnly.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1608 – to object.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1622 – protest of a bill.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1751 – a statement of disapproval.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1942 – ''protest march''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A statement or action showing strong disapproval or [[objection]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A public event, such as a march, at which people show disapproval of something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' A formal declaration that a bill has not been paid.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To express strong disapproval of or objection to something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To declare something firmly, especially when others doubt it: ''protest one's innocence''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[protester]]

+ * [[protestingly]]

+ * [[protestable]]

+ * [[protestive]]

+ * [[supraprotest]]

+ * [[Protestant]]

+ * [[protestation]]

+ * [[protest vote]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[testament]]

+ * [[testify]]

+ * [[attest]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}