prolocutrix 
prolocutrix I pi-o-lok'u-triks or pro'lo-ku-triks), 
H. [< L. '/ii'ilin-iilrif. fern, of jiriilnciilni-, an ad- 
vocate: sec i>r<>loctor.~\ A woman who speakH 
for otlirrs. 
Lady Counteme, hath the lords made you a charter, and 
sent you (for that you are an eloquent speaker) to be their 
aduocate and prvlocutrix? 
Daniel, Hist. Eng., p. 141. (Daein.) 
prologize, r. i. See prologuizc. 
prologue, prolog (pro'log), H. [< ME. prologue, 
proliii/r, < OF. jirnlni/iK , F. fntyut = Pr. pro- 
logue', prologre = Sp. prologo = Pg. It. prologo, 
< L. prologus, < Gr. irpo)j>yos, a preface or in- 
troduction, < jr/xi, before, -f Myof, a saying or 
speaking: see Logos.] 1. The preface or in- 
troduction to a discourse or performance: spe- 
cifically, a discourse or poem spoken before a 
dramatic performance or play begins; hence, 
that which precedes or leads up to any act or 
event. 
Jerom In hUe tire! proloyit on Matheu with this. 
Wycltf, Prolog (on Matthew). 
Think st thou that mirth and vain .Ir] k-lit -. 
High feed, and shadow. ahort'nitig nights, . . . 
Are proper prologue* to a crown ? 
Quarltt, Emblems, li. 11. 
How this vile World is chang'd ! In former Days 
Prvloyttft were serious Speeches before Plays. 
Congreve, Old Batchelor, ProL 
111 read you the whole, from beginning to end, with the 
prologue and epilogue, and allow time for the music be- 
tween the acts. Sheridan, The Critic, i. 1. 
2. The speaker of a prologue on the stage. 
It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue ; but 
it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord the prologue. 
Shale., As you Like it, Epil. 
The duke is entering ; set your faces right, 
And bow like country prologues. 
Fletcher (and another), Noble Gentleman, iii. 2. 
=8yn. L Preface, Preamble, etc. See introduction. 
prologue (pro'log), v. t. ; pret. and pp.protogued, 
ppr. /iroliH/iiiiiij. [< prologue, M.] To intro- 
duce with a formal prologue or preface ; pref- 
ace. 
Thus he his special nothing ever prologue!. 
Shak., All's Well, ii. 1. 95. 
prologuize, prologize (pro'log-iz), . i.; pret. 
and pp. prologuized, prologized, ppr. prolOffviz- 
ing, prologizing. [< prologue + -i:c.} To de- 
liver a prologue. 
There may prologue the spirit of Philip, Herod's brother 
Mill, m, Plan of a Tragedy called Bapttstes. 
Artemis Prologuiai. 
Browning, Dramatic Romances and Lyrics (subtitle). 
prologuizer (pro'log-i-zer), n. [< prologuize + 
-er^.] One who makes or delivers a prologue. 
[Bare.] 
Till, decent sables on his back 
(Your prolotrinntrt all wear black), 
The prologue comes ; and. If it 's mine, 
It 's very good, and very fine. 
Lloyd, To George Column. 
prolong (pro-l&ng'), v. [< ME. prolongen (also 
purlongen), < OF. (and F. ) prolonger = Pr.pro- 
loitguar = Sp. Pg. prolongar = It. prolougurr, 
prolungare, < LL. prolongare, lengthen, extend, 
< L. pro, forth, + longus, long: see lout/ 1 . Cf. 
;irton, ult. from the same L. verb.] I. trans. 
1 . To lengthen in time ; extend the duration of ; 
lengthen out. 
I fly not death, nor would prolong 
Life much. Mill,,,,. P. L., xL 547. 
And frequent cups prolong the rich repast 
Pope, R. of the L., III. 112. 
2. To put off to a future time ; postpone. 
This wedding-day 
Perhaps Is but prolong' d; have patience and endure. 
'*-., Much Ado, iv. 1. 256. 
4766 
prolongation (pro-16ng-ga'shou), H. [< F. pm- 
longatton= Pr. prolonyticio = 8p. prolongation 
= Pg. ]'olongay3o = It. prolongazione, prolun- 
<in:ione, ML. *prolnngatio(n-), < LL. protom/iiri , 
pp. prolonijatus, lengthen, extend : see pro- 
KmgU 1. The act of prolonging, or lengthen- 
ing in time or space: as, the prolongation of a 
line. 
Nourishment In living creatures is for the prolongation 
of life. Bacon, Nat Hist 
If we begin to die when we live, and long life be but a 
prolongation of death, our life is a sad composition. 
Sir T. Brmcnt, Urn-burial, v. 
2. A part prolonged ; an extension : as, the 
prolongation of a mountain-range. 
Two remarkable processes or prolongation! of the bones 
of the leg. Paley, Nat Theol., viil. 
Sofas resembling a prolongation of uneasy chairs. 
George Eliot, Middlemarch, xvil. 
3. Extension of time by delay or postponement. 
This ambassage concerned only the prolongation of days 
for payment of monies. Bacon, Hist. Hen. VII. 
prolonge (pro-lonj'), w. [< TF.prolonge, a bind- 
ing-rope, < prolonger, prolong: see prolong.} 
Milit., a hempen rope composed of three 
pieces joined by two open rings, and having 
a hook at one end and a toggle at the other. 
It Is usually about nine yards long. It is used to draw 
a gun-carriage without the limber in a retreat or ad- 
vance through a narrow street or defile, or for tempora- 
rily attaching the gun to the limber when it is not de- 
sired to limber up. It Is also employed In getting guns 
across ditches, for righting overturned gun-carriages, and 
for any other purpose in which such a rope can be made 
useful. The prolonge can be shortened by looping It back, 
and engaging either the terminal hook or 
toggle In one of the intermediate rings. 
Wile ' ' 
Prontach Hsjitch i. 
3. To extend in space or length: as, to prolong 
a straight line. 
On each side, the countless arches prolong themselves. 
Ruilcin. 
= Syn. 1 and 3. To protract, extend, continue, draw out. 
II. intratiK. To lengthen out ; extend. [Kare.J 
Tills page, which from my reveries I feed, 
Cntil ft seems prolonging without end. 
Byron, Chllde Harold. III. 109. 
prolongable (pro-16ng'a-bl), a. [< proloinj + 
-nl>l>'.] Capable of being prolonged, extended, 
or lengthened. 
Had the rod been really Indefinitely prolonaablt. 
PhUoKpMcafilag.. .XXVII. 14. 
prolongatet (pro-lc'mg'gat), r. t. [< LL. iimli, ,i- 
pp. iif /iroliinyare, lengthen, extend: sec 
I/.] To prolong; lengthen. 
His prolongatfd note 
Should guard his grinning mmilh from blows. 
W. Combe, Dr. Syntax, III. -L (Dana) 
. 
en not in use, it is wound about and 
carried on the prolonge- hooks on the trail 
of the gun. See cut under gun-carriage. 
Prolonge-knot (naut.), a useful as well 
as ornamental knot, sometimes called a Prolonge- or 
capstan-knot, formerly known by gunners Capstan-knot, 
at) a delay-knot. 
prolonger (pro-ldng'er), n. One who or that 
which prolongs, or lengthens in time or space. 
O ! . . . Temperance ! Thou Prolonger of Life ! 
W. Hay, Fugitive Pieces, I. 100. 
prolongment (pro-ldng'ment), n. [< prolong + 
-went.) The act of prolonging, or the state of 
being prolonged ; prolongation. 
Tho he himself may have been so weak as earnestly to 
dectine Death, and endeavour the utmost l*rolonyment of 
his own un-eligible State. 
Sha/tesbury, Characteristics, II. 141. 
prolusion (pro-lu'zhon), w. [= Sp. prolusion = 
It. prolusione, < ~L. prolusio(u-), a prelude, < nro- 
lutlere, pp. proluttua, play or practise before- 
hand, < J>ro, before, -t- litdere, play: see ludi- 
crous.'] 1. A prelude to a game, performance, 
or entertainment; hence, a prelude, introduc- 
tion, or preliminary in general. 
The . . . noble soul must be vigilant, go continually 
armed, and be ready to encounter every thought ami 
imagination of reluctant sense, and the first prolwritHW of 
the enemy. Krrlyii, True Religion, I. 227. 
But why such long prolusion and display, 
Such turning and adjustment of the harp? 
Browning, Transcendentalism. 
2. An essay or preparatory exercise in which 
the writer tries his own strength, or throws out 
some preliminary remarks on a subject which 
he intends to treat more profoundly. 
Ambition which might have devastated mankind with 
Prolutiont on the Pentateuch. 
l.i'iritl, Fireside Travels, p. 62. 
As literary supports . . . came two remarkable pnlu- 
riant of Visconti before the Paris Academy. 
Edinburgh Rev., CLXIV. 508. 
promachos (prom ' a- 
kos), n. [< Gr. irp6/ta- 
Xor, fighting in front or 
as a champion ; as a 
noun, a defender, a 
champion, a defending 
deity ; < Ttp6, before, + 
uaxtafcu, fight.] In Gr. 
HI ;i Hi. and tirrlueol., a 
deity who fights before 
some person, army, or 
state, as a protector or 
guardian : said espe- 
cially of Athene and 
A polio. In art and arche- 
ology the type is distin- 
guished by the attitude of 
combat, often with upraised 
hit-Id and the spear or 
"ttirr weapon extended 
threateningly. 
Promachus (prom'a-kus), . [NL. (Loew, 
1H4H), < Gr. jrpouajof, fighting in front: see 
A genus of robber-Hies or AHi<ln\ 
Promacho*. Athene the De- 
fender. (Marble from Hcrculanc. 
urn. in the Museo Nattonale. Na 
pie..) 
Promeropidae 
having the ab- 
domen longer 
than the wings, 
the body thin- 
ly pilose, and 
the wings with 
three submar- 
ginal cells, f. 
fitchi is an en- 
emy of the hon- 
ey-bee in the 
United States. 
promammal 
(pro-mam'al), 
M. One of the 
Promammalin. 
Promammalia (pro-roa-ma'li-a), M. pi [NL., < 
L. pro, before, } NL. Mammalia, q. v.] The 
unknown hypothetical ancestors of mammals ; 
a supposed primitive type of Mammalia, of 
which the existing monotremes are the nearest 
relatives or descendants. Compare Prototheria. 
The unknown extinct Primary Mammals or Promam- 
malia, . . . probably possessed a very highly developed 
jaw. llufckrl, Hist Creat. (trans.), II. 285. 
promammalian (pro-ma-ma'liau), a. and n. I. 
a. Pertaining to the Promammalia. 
H. ". A promammal. 
promanation (prom-a-na'shon), n. [< L. pro, 
before, + manalio(n-), a flowing, < manare, pp. 
waiiatiui, flow, drip.] The act of flowing forth ; 
emanation. 
Prmaanation ... of the rays of light 
Dr. II. More, Def. of Philosophical Cabbala, vlfi., App. 
promenade (prom-e-niid'), n. [< F. promenade, 
a walking, walk, airing, drive, a public walk, 
<.j>rote>icr, take out (animals), conduct, take 
(one) out for a walk, ride, or drive, < LL. promi- 
nare, drive forward, < pro, forward, + minare, 
drive (animals): see wtine 2 , mien.] 1. A walk 
for pleasure or display, or for exercise. 2. A 
place for walking. 
No unpleasant walk or promenade for the unconflned 
portion of some solitary prisoner. 
W. Montague, Devoute Essays, I. xlx. tf. 
Moored opposite Whitehall was a very large barge with 
a saloon, aim promenade on the top, called the Folly. 
./. Athlon, Social Life in Reign of Queen Anne, II. 149. 
Promenade concert, a musical entertainment in which 
the audience promenades or dances during the music, 
instead of remaining seated. 
promenade (prom-e-nad')i v. i.; pret. and pp. 
promenaded, ppr. promenading, [< promenade, 
M.] To walk about or up and down for amuse- 
ment, display, or exercise; also, recently, to 
take exercise in carriage, saddle, or boat. 
The poplars, in long order du.e, 
With cypress promenaded. 
Tennyton, Amphion. 
The grandes dames, in their splendid tolleta, prome- 
naded in their gilded phaetons on the magnificent Avenue 
of the Champs Elynees. 
/.'. /.'. Wathlntrne, Recollections of a Minister, I. :(. 
promenader (prom-e-na'der), n. [< promenade 
+ -er 1 .] One who promenades. 
The Rlva degll Schlavonl catches the warm afternoon 
sun In Its whole extent, and is then thronged with prome- 
nadrrt of every class, condition, age, and sex. 
II,.,,. it'. Venetian Life, ill. 
Promephitis (pro-me-fj'tis), n. [NL. (Gaudry, 
1861), < L. pro, before, + Mephitis, q. v.] A 
genus of musteline camivorous quadrupeds 
from the Upper Miocene. 
promeritt (pro-mer'it), P. t. [< L. promeritun, 
pp. of promerere, be deserving of, < pro, tor, + 
nterere, deserve, be worthy of: see merit.'] 1. 
To deserve ; procure by merit. 
From him [Chrtot] then, and from him alone, must we 
expect Salvation, acknowledging and confessing freely 
there Is nothing in ourselves which can effect or deserve 
It from us, nothing in any other creature which cat, pro- 
merit or procure It to us. Bp. I'earton, Expos, of Creed, II. 
2. To befriend ; confer a favor on. 
He loves not Ood : no, not whiles He prvmeritt him with 
His favours. Up. Hall, Sermon on Jas. Ir. 8. 
promeritort (pro-mer'i-tor), M. [< promt rtt + 
-or 1 .] One who deserves or merits, whether 
good or evil. 
\Miatsocver mischiefs befall them or their po*tiin\. 
though many ages after the decease of the prtnneritort, 
were Inflicted upon them fn revenge. 
CArwtt'nn lieligiun't Appeal. (Latham.) 
promerope (pnnn'r-rop), n. A bird of the ge- 
nus l'i -linn rni>x, in any sense. 
Promeropidae (prom-f-rop'i-de), . pi. (XL.. 
< I'miiii'i-niif, + -)>/'. "I A fiiniily of tenninistral 
iiisi-ssiiria! birds, nrnm-il by Vigors in 1SU"> from 
flic t,"'" s I'l'iiuin-iiiix: synonymous with .Vir/n 
riniida; and still souirtiim-s IISIM! in that sense, 
as by G. K. Gray, 1809. 
