Word of the Day: Protest
protest
pro-test / prə-tĕst, prō-tĕst , prō-tĕst
noun
1. a public gathering or march for people to express their opposition to something
What makes America great is peaceful protests and exercising your constitutional rights.
Matthew Dowd, 1961 –
2. an explicit, public announcement of opinion and usually of disagreement
Sarcasm is the protest of the weak.
John Knowles. 1926 – 2001
3. the act of making a strong objection or indication of disagreement or disapproval
I learned early that crying out in protest could accomplish things.
Malcolm X, 1925 – 1965
4. a complaint, objection or formal disagreement
Before she could utter her protest he had started down the trail toward the house.
From “Brand Blotters” by William MacLeod Raine, 1871 – 1954
verb
1. to disagree strongly, to object
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.
Elie Wiesel, 1928 – 2016
2. to take part in a public demonstration in opposition
When individuals get crowbars and start prying open doors to loot, they’re not protesting…They’re stealing.
Barack Obama, 1961 –
3. to sincerely promise or affirm
Protest long enough that you are right, and you will be wrong.
Yiddish Proverb
4. to express disapproval or raise an objection
It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest.
Abraham Lincoln, 1809 – 1865
5. (archaic) to publicly announce
And many unrough youths that even now
Protest their first of manhood.
From “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, 1564 – 1616
etymology
From the Latin verb protestor (made up of the prefix pro-(for) and the verb testor, testari, testatus (bear witness) through the Old French verb protester and the Middle English verb protesten.
Thank you to Allen Ward for providing this etymology.
