Adjacent Words

Protest definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PROTEST', v.i. [L. protestor; pro and testor, to affirm it.]
1. To affirm with solemnity; to make a solemn declaration of a fact or opinion; as, I protest to you, I have no knowledge of the transaction.
2. To make a solemn declaration expressive of opposition; with against; as, he protests against your votes.
The conscience has power to protest against the exorbitancies of the passions.
3. To make a formal declaration in writing against a public law or measure. It is the privilege of any lord in parliament to protest against a law or resolution.
PROTEST', v.t. To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation.
Fiercely they oppos'd
My journey strange, with clamorous uproar
Protesting fate supreme.
1. To prove; to show; to give evidence of. [Not in use.]
2. In commerce, to protest a bill of exchange, is for a notary public, at the request of the payee, to make a formal declaration under hand and seal, against the drawer of the bill, on account of non-acceptance or non-payment, for exchange, cost,commissions, damages and interest; of which act the indorser must be notified within such time as the law or custom prescribes. In like manner, notes of hand given to a banking corporation are protested for non-payment.
PRO'TEST, n. A solemn declaration of opinion, commonly against some act; appropriately, a formal and solemn declaration in writing of dissent from the proceedings of a legislative body; as the protest of lords in parliament, or a like declaration of dissent of any minority against the proceedings of a majority of a body of men.
1. In commerce, a formal declaration made by a notary public, under hand and seal, at the request of the payee or holder of a bill of exchange, for non-acceptance or non-payment of the same, protesting against the drawer and others concerned, for the exchange,charges, damages and interest. This protest is written on a copy of the bill, and notice given to the indorser of the same, by which he becomes liable to pay the amount of the bill, with charges, damages and interest; also, a like declaration against the drawer of a note of hand for non-payment to a banking corporation, and of the master of a vessel against seizure, etc. A protest is also a writing attested by a justice of the peace or consul, drawn by the master of a vessel, stating the severity of the voyage by which the ship has suffered, and showing that the damage suffered was not owing to the neglect or misconduct of the master.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: 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" [syn: protest, protestation]
2: the act of protesting; a public (often organized) manifestation of dissent [syn: protest, objection, 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" v
1: utter words of protest
2: express opposition through action or words; "dissent to the laws of the country" [syn: protest, resist, dissent]
3: affirm or avow formally or solemnly; "The suspect protested his innocence"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from protester Date: 15th century 1. a solemn declaration of opinion and usually of dissent: as a. a sworn declaration that payment of a note or bill has been refused and that all responsible signers or debtors are liable for resulting loss or damage b. a declaration made especially before or while paying that a tax is illegal and that payment is not voluntary 2. the act of objecting or a gesture of disapproval <resigned in protest>; especially a usually organized public demonstration of disapproval 3. a complaint, objection, or display of unwillingness usually to an idea or a course of action <went under protest> 4. an objection made to an official or a governing body of a sport II. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French protester, from Latin protestari, from pro- forth + testari to call to witness — more at pro-, testament Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to make solemn declaration or affirmation of <protest my innocence> 2. to execute or have executed a formal protest against (as a bill or note) 3. to make a statement or gesture in objection to <protested the abuses of human rights> intransitive verb 1. to make a protestation 2. to make or enter a protest Synonyms: see assert • protester or protestor noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a statement of dissent or disapproval; a remonstrance (made a protest). 2 (often attrib.) a usu. public demonstration of objection to government etc. policy (marched in protest; protest demonstration). 3 a solemn declaration. 4 Law a written declaration, usu. by a notary public, that a bill has been presented and payment or acceptance refused. --v. 1 intr. (usu. foll. by against, at, about, etc.) make a protest against an action, proposal, etc. 2 tr. (often foll. by that + clause; also absol.) affirm (one's innocence etc.) solemnly, esp. in reply to an accusation etc. 3 tr. Law write or obtain a protest in regard to (a bill). 4 tr. US object to (a decision etc.). Phrases and idioms: under protest unwillingly. Derivatives: protester n. protestingly adv. protestor n. Etymology: ME f. OF protest (n.), protester (v.), f. L protestari (as PRO-(1), testari assert f. testis witness)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(protested) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you protest against something or about something, you say or show publicly that you object to it. In American English, you usually say that you protest it. Groups of women took to the streets to protest against the arrests... The students were protesting at overcrowding in the university hostels... They were protesting soaring prices... He picked up the cat before Rosa could protest. VERB: V about/against/at n, V about/against/at n, V n, V 2. A protest is the act of saying or showing publicly that you object to something. The opposition now seems too weak to stage any serious protests against the government... The unions called a two-hour strike in protest at the railway authority's announcement. ...a protest march. N-VAR: oft N against/at/about n 3. If you protest that something is the case, you insist that it is the case, when other people think that it may not be. When we tried to protest that Mo was beaten up they didn't believe us... 'I never said any of that to her,' he protested... He has always protested his innocence. VERB: V that, V with quote, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. Declare (solemnly), aver, affirm, assert, asseverate, avow, profess, attest, testify. II. v. a. Declare (solemnly), assert, affirm, asseverate. III. n. Declaration (made in a formal manner against something).

Moby Thesaurus

affirm, affirmance, affirmation, allegation, allege, announce, announcement, annunciate, annunciation, argue, assert, assertion, assever, asseverate, asseveration, aver, averment, avouch, avouchment, avow, avowal, bad debt, ban, bashfulness, be at cross-purposes, beef, beefing, bellyache, bellyaching, bitch, bitching, blackball, blackballing, boggle, boggling, boycott, break bounds, break step, call in question, categorically reject, challenge, combat, combative reaction, complain, complain loudly, complaining, complaint, compunction, conclusion, confirm, confront, contend, contend with, contrariety, counter, counteract, counteraction, countervail, counterwork, creed, cross, cry out against, declaration, declare, default, defection, defiance, delinquence, delinquency, demonstrate, demonstrate against, demonstration, demur, demurral, demurrer, denial, deny, depose, destructive criticism, deviation, dictum, difficulty, diffidence, dim view, disaccord, disaccordance, disagree, disagreement, disallow, disappointment, disapprobation, disapproval, disapprove, disapprove of, disclaim, disclaimer, disconformity, discontent, discontentedness, discontentment, disenchantment, disesteem, disfavor, disgruntlement, dishonor, dishonoring, disillusion, disillusionment, displeasure, dispute, disrespect, dissatisfaction, dissent, dissent from, dissentience, distaste, drop out, enter a protest, enunciate, enunciation, except, exception, exclude, exclusion, expostulate, expostulation, express, face down, face out, face up to, falter, faltering, faultfinding, fight, fractiousness, front, frown at, frown down, frown upon, go against, grievance, grievance committee, grimace at, gripe, griping, groan, groaning, grouse, grousing, grumble, grumbling, have, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitation, hold, holler, howl, inaccordance, incongruity, inconsistency, indignation, indignation meeting, insist, insist on, inveigh against, involuntarily, ipse dixit, issue a manifesto, join the opposition, kick, kick against, kicking, lay down, levant, look askance at, look black upon, low estimation, low opinion, maintain, make a stand, make waves, manifesto, march, meet head-on, modesty, murmuring, negativism, noncompliance, nonconcurrence, nonconform, nonconformance, nonconformism, nonconformity, noncooperation, nondischarge of debts, nonobservance, nonpayment, nonremittal, nonviolent protest, not abide, not approve, not comply, not conform, not go for, not hear of, not hold with, not pay, object, object to, objection, obstinacy, offer resistance, oppose, opposition, opposure, opt out, originality, ostracism, ostracize, passive resistance, pause, peeve, peevishness, pet peeve, petulance, picket, picketing, play at cross-purposes, position, position paper, positive declaration, predicate, predication, press objections, proclaim, proclamation, profess, profession, pronounce, pronouncement, proposition, protest demonstration, protestation, protested bill, put, put it, qualm, qualm of conscience, qualmishness, querulousness, question, raise a howl, rally, reaction, rebuff, recalcitrance, recalcitrancy, recalcitrate, recalcitration, recoil, recusance, recusancy, refractoriness, refuse to pay, reject, rejection, reluct, reluctance, reluctantly, remonstrance, remonstrate, remonstration, renitence, renitency, repellence, repellency, repudiate, repudiation, repulse, repulsion, resist, resistance, revolt, rock the boat, run against, run counter to, say, say no to, say-so, saying, scolding, scruple, scrupulosity, scrupulousness, set down, show fight, shrinking, shyness, sit in, sit-in, sniping, speak, speak out, speak up, squawk, squawking, stance, stand, stand at bay, stand for, stand on, stand up against, stand up to, state, statement, stickling, stop payment, strike, strive against, submit, take exception, take exception to, take issue with, teach in, teach-in, think ill of, think little of, thumb down, thumbs-down, traverse, uncollectible, unconformity, uncooperativeness, under protest, unhappiness, unwillingly, utterance, view with disfavor, vote against, vouch, welsh, whining, withstand, withstanding, word, yapping, yell bloody murder