protagonist
English edit
Etymology edit
From Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs, “a chief actor”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”). By surface analysis, prot- (“first”) + agonist (“combatant, participant”).
Pronunciation edit
- (UK, General Australian) IPA(key): /pɹəˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/
- (US) IPA(key): /pɹoʊˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun edit
protagonist (plural protagonists)
- (authorship) The main character, or one of the main characters, in any story, such as a literary work or drama.
- Antonym: antagonist
- A leading person in a contest; a principal performer.
- (proscribed) An advocate or champion of a cause or course of action.
Usage notes edit
The use of protagonist to mean a proponent or supporter of a cause is a 20th century development that may have been influenced by the misunderstanding that the first syllable of the word is the prefix pro-, meaning favouring.[1] This usage is widely considered to be erroneous.[2][3]
Antonyms edit
Coordinate terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
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References edit
- ^ “protagonist”, in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th edition, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016, →ISBN.
- ^ Pinker, Steven (2014) The Sense of Style, New York, New York: Penguin, →ISBN
- ^ Feloni, Richard (30 November 2015), “The 58 Most Commonly Misused Words and Phrases”, in The Independent, Independent Print Limited
Further reading edit
- “protagonist”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “protagonist”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Danish edit
Noun edit
protagonist c (singular definite protagonisten, plural indefinite protagonister)
- (literature) protagonist
- Synonym: hovedperson
Declension edit
common gender |
Singular | Plural | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | |
nominative | protagonist | protagonisten | protagonister | protagonisterne |
genitive | protagonists | protagonistens | protagonisters | protagonisternes |
Further reading edit
Dutch edit
Etymology edit
Ultimately from Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs). This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
protagonist m (plural protagonisten)
- protagonist, main character [from 18th c.]
- 1780, M. C. Curtius, Aristoteles Verhandeling over de dichtkunst, tr. from German, publ. by Arend Fokke Simonsz., page 105.
- Hy voerde nog een perſoon in, en verdeelde het Treurſpel in twee rollen, van welke de eerste Acteur de hoofdrol ſpeelde en daarvan de Protagonist heette;
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- Synonyms: hoofdpersonage, hoofdpersoon
- 1780, M. C. Curtius, Aristoteles Verhandeling over de dichtkunst, tr. from German, publ. by Arend Fokke Simonsz., page 105.
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Romanian edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from French protagoniste.
Noun edit
protagonist m (plural protagoniști)
Declension edit
singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
indefinite articulation | definite articulation | indefinite articulation | definite articulation | |
nominative/accusative | (un) protagonist | protagonistul | (niște) protagoniști | protagoniștii |
genitive/dative | (unui) protagonist | protagonistului | (unor) protagoniști | protagoniștilor |
vocative | protagonistule | protagoniștilor |
Swedish edit
Noun edit
protagonist c
- (authorship) a protagonist
- Antonym: antagonist
Declension edit
Declension of protagonist | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | |||
Indefinite | Definite | Indefinite | Definite | |
Nominative | protagonist | protagonisten | protagonister | protagonisterna |
Genitive | protagonists | protagonistens | protagonisters | protagonisternas |