prostitute 
prostitute (pros'ti-tut), 1. 1. ; pret. and pp. pros- 
li/iiti-il. ppr. prustilitliiiii. [< L. prostitutus, pp. 
of prostituere (> It. prostitiiire Sp. Pg. ;ir.s-- 
titiiir = F. prostitucr), place before or in front, 
expose publicly, <pro, forth, before, + statuere, 
cause to stand, set up: Bee statue, statute. Cf. 
constitute, institute, etc.] 1. To offer to a lewd 
use, or to indiscriminate lewdness, for hire. 
Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a 
whore. I \ xix. 29. 
For many went to Corinth, In respect of the multitude 
of Harlots prostituted or consecrated to Venus. 
Pvrchas, Pilgrimage, p. 321. 
2. To surrender to any vile or infamous pur- 
pose ; devote to anything base ; sell or hire to 
the service of wickedness. 
Shall I abuse this consecrated gift 
Of strength, . . . and add a greater sin, 
By prostituting holy things to idols? 
Milton, S. A., 1. 1858. 
I pity from my soul unhappy men 
Compell'd by want to prostitute their pen. 
Roseommon, Translated Verse. 
The title [of esquire) has, however, become so basely 
prostituted as to be worthless, tf. and Q., 7th ser., V. 478. 
prostitute (pros'ti-tut), a. and M. [I. a. < L. 
prostitutes, exposed publicly, prostituted, pp. 
of prostituere, expose publicly : see prostitute, 
v. II. . = Sp. Pg. It. prostituta,<. li.prostituta, 
a prostitute, fem. of prostitutus, exposed pub- 
licly: see I.] I. a. 1. Openly devoted to lewd- 
ness for gain. 
Made bold by want, and prostitute for bread. 
Prior, Henry and Emma. 
2. Sold for base or infamous purposes; in- 
famous; mercenary; base. 
I found how the world had been misled by prostitute 
writers to ascribe the greatest exploits in war to cowards. 
Sw\ft, Oulllver's Travels, ill. 8. 
80 shameless and so prostitute an attempt to impose on 
the citizens of America. 
A. Hamilton, The Federalist, No. Ixv. 
II. n. 1. A woman given to indiscriminate 
lewdness for gain; a strumpet; a harlot. In 
criminal law it has been held that the element 
of gain is not essential or may be presumed. 
Dread no dearth of prostitutes at Rome. Drydtn. 
2. A base hireling; a mercenary; one who en- 
gages in infamous employments for hire. 
No hireling she, no prostitute to praise. 
Pope, Ep. to Barley, 1. 36. 
prostitution (pros-ti-tu'shon), . [< P. prosti- 
tution = Sp. prostitution = Pg. prostituifSo = It. 
iirostituzione, < L. prostitutio(n-), prostitution, 
< prostituere, pp. prostitutus, expose publicly: 
see prostitute.'] 1. The act or practice of pros- 
tituting, or offering the body to indiscriminate 
sexual intercourse for hire. 
Till prostitution elbows us aside 
In all our crowded streeto. 
Cowper, Task, ill. 60. 
2. The act of offering or devoting to a base or 
infamous use: as, the prostitution of talents or 
abilities. 
When a country (one that I could name) 
In prostitution sinks the sense of shame, 
When Infamous Venality, grown bold, 
Writes on his bosom "to be let or sold." 
Cowper, Table-Talk, 1. 416. 
I hate the prostitution of the name of friendship to sig- 
nify modish and worldly alliances. Kmerson, Friendship. 
prostitutor (pros'ti-tu-tpr), n. [= F. prostitu- 
ieur = Pg. prostituidor, ( L. prostitutor, a pros- 
titutor, pander, violator, < prostituere, pp. pros- 
litutus, expose publicly: see prostitute, v.] One 
who prostitutes; one who submits one's self or 
offers another to vile purposes; one who de- 
grades anything to a base purpose. 
Tills sermon would be as seasonable a reproof of the 
Methodists as the other was of the prnstiiutors of the Lord's 
supper. Bp. Hurd, To Warburton, Let. cL 
prostomial (pro-sto'mi-al). . [< prostomi-um 
+ -al.] Preoral; situated in advance of the 
mouth; pertaining to the prostomium. 
The Mollusca are sharply divided into two great lines of 
descent or branches, according as the prostnmiat region is 
atrophied on the one hand or largely developed on the 
other. E. R. Lankester, Encyc. Brit., XVI. 639. 
prostomiate (pro-std'mi-at), a. [< prostomium 
+ -ate 1 .'] Provided with a prostomium. 
prostomium (pro-sto'mi-um), H.; pi. prostomia 
(-a). [NL., < Gr. irp6, before, + ar6fta, mouth.] 
Tne region in front of the mouth in the embryos 
of the Cceloiiiiita : the preoral part of the head: 
said chiefly of invertebrates, as mollusks and 
worms. This Is the essential part of the head, and is 
connected with the faculty of forward locomotion In a 
definite direction and the steady carriage of the body, as 
opposed to rotation of the body on its long axis. As a re- 
4791 
suit the Ctrtmnattt present. In the first Instance, the gen- 
eral condition of the body known u bilateral symmetry. 
Prostomum (pros'to-mum), . [NL., < Gr. xpo, 
before, + oro/ia, mouth.] A genus of aproctous 
rhabdocoelous Turbellaria, having a second or 
frontal in addition to the usual buccal probos- 
cis. Also Prostoma. 
prostrate (pros'trat), v. t.; pret. and pp. pros- 
trated, ppr. prostrating. [< L. prostratus, pp. 
of prosternere (> It. prosternere, prosternare = 
Sp. Pg. prosternar = F. prosterner), strew in 
front of, throw down, overthrow, < pro, before, 
in front of, + steruere, spread out, extend, strew: 
see stratus, strew.] 1. Tolayflat; throwdown: 
as, to prostrate the body. 2. To throw down; 
overthrow; demolish; ruin: as, to prostrate a 
government ; to prostrate the honor of a nation. 
In the streets many they slew, and fired divers places, 
prostrating two parishes almost entirely. SirJ. Hayward. 
3. To throw (one's self) down, in humility or 
adoration; bow with the face to the ground: 
used reflexively. 
All the spectators prostrated themselves most humbly 
upon their knees. Coryat, Crudities, I. 39, slg. D. 
I prostrate myself in the humblest and decentest way of 
genuflection I can imagine. llmnll. Letters, I. vL 32. 
4. To present submissively; submit in rever- 
ence. 
We cannot be 
Ambitions of a lady, In your own 
Dominion, to whom we shall more willingly 
Prostrate our duties. 
Shiriry, Grateful Servant, I. 1. 
5. In mill., to make to sink totally; reduce ex- 
tremely; cause to succumb: as, to prostrate a 
person s strength, 
prostrate (pros'trat), a. [< ME. prostrat = OV. 
prostre, < L. prostratus, pp. of prosternere, strew 
mfrontof: eeeprogtrate,r.] 1. Lying at length, 
or with the body extended on the ground or 
other surface. 
Well MY so half hour she lay, this swet wight, 
Prostrat to the erth. 
Rom. of Partenay (E. E. T. 8.), I. 3569. 
Mother Joimlain, he you prostrate, and grovel on the 
earth. Shot. , 2 Hen. VI. , L 4. 13. 
Havoc and devastation In the van, 
It {Etna's eruption] marches o'er the prostrate work of 
man. Cowper, Heroism, 1. 22. 
2. Lying at mercy, as a suppliant or one who 
is overcome in fight: as, a prostrate foe. 
Look gracious on thy prostrate thrall. 
5*o*., 1 Hen. VI., L 2. 117. 
3. Lying or bowed low in the posture of hu- 
mility or adoration. 
O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode 
Of thrones and mighty seraphim prostrate. 
Milton, P. L., vt 841. 
See thy bright altars throng'd with prostrate kings. 
Pope, Messiah, 1. 93. 
4. In hut., lying flat and spreading on the 
ground without taking root; procumbent. 5. 
In :ool., closely appressed to the surface ; lying 
flat: as, prostrate hairs. = 8yn. 1. Prostrate, Supine, 
Prone. He who lies prostrate may be either supine (that 
is, with his face up) or prone (that is, with his face <Um n). 
prostration (pros-tra'shon), H. [< F. prostra- 
tion = Sp. postracion = "Pg. prostrafSo = It. 
prostraziont, <LL. prostratio(n-), an overthrow- 
ing, a subverting, < L. prosternere, pp. prostra- 
tus, overthrow, prostrate: see prostrate."] 1. 
The act of prostrating, throwing down, or lay- 
ing flat. 
Though the loss of power to resist which prottratimi on 
the face Implies does not reach the utter defencelessness 
implied by prostration on the back, yet It is great enough 
to make it a sign of profound homage. 
B. Spencer, Prin. of Soclol., | 884. 
2. The act of falling down, or the act of bow- 
ing, in humility or adoration; primarily, the 
act of falling on the face, but the word is now 
used also for kneeling or bowing in reverence 
and worship. 
The comely Prostrations of the Body, with Genuflection, 
and other Acts of Humility In time of divine Service, are 
very Exemplary. Houxtt, Letters, Iv. 36. 
How they can change their noble Words and Actions, 
heretofore so becoming the majesty of a free People, Into 
the base necessity of Court-flatteries and Prostrations, is 
not only strange and admirable, but lamentable to think 
on. Milton, Free Commonwealth. 
Lying at the feet of their blessed Lord, with the hum- 
blest attention of scholars, and the lowest prostration of 
subjects. Smith, Sermons, IV. L 
3. Great depression ; dejection : as, a prostra- 
tion of spirits. 4. In merf., a great loss of 
strength, which may involve both voluntary 
and involuntary functions. 
A sudden prostration- of strength, or weakness, attends 
this collick. Arbuthimt. 
people . . . are the great and Infallible pros- 
ill religion, vertue, honour, order, peace, civil* 
Plan of Prostyle 
Temple. 
protamnion 
A condition of prostratiim, whose quickly consummated 
debility puzzled all who witnessed It. 
Charlotte Kronte, Shirley, xxlv. 
Nervous prostration. See nervous. 
prostrator (pros'tra-tor), . [< LL. prostrator, 
prostrator, < L. prosternere, pp. prostratus, over- 
throw: see prostrate.] One who prostrates, 
overturns, or lays low. 
Common 
tratorsot all 
Ity, and humanity, If left to themselves. 
lip. Oauden, Tears of the Church, p. 180. (Vavies.) 
prostyle (pro'stil), a. [< L. prostylos, < Gr. 
JiyxSonvtof, having columns in front, < np6, in 
front, + orWof, column.] In 
arch., noting a portico in 
which the columns stand out 
entirely in front of the walls 
of the building to which it is 
attached; also, noting a tem- 
ple or other structure having 
columns in front only, but 
across the whole front, as 
distinguished from a portico 
in antis, or a structure char- 
acterized by such a portico. 
See amphiprostyle, anhi 1 , and 
portico. 
The next step [in the development 
of a temple plan) was the removal of 
these side walls lantn-l, . . . columns 
taking their place in the corners, . . . 
and the prostyle temple was thus ob- 
tained. Reber, Ancient Art (tr. by ClarkeX p. 200. 
prosy (pro'zi), a. [< prose + -y 1 .] Like prose ; 
prosaic; hence, dull; tedious; tiresome. 
Poets are prosy in their common talk, 
As the fast trotters, for the most part, walk. 
0. W. Holmes, The Banker's Dinner. 
They tell us we have fallen on prosy days. 
Lowell, Under the Willows. 
prosyllogism (pro-sil'9-jizm), H. [= F.proxyl- 
loyismo = Pg. proailloffi/tmo, < Gr. ir/toav/.).oyio- 
/iof, a svllogism of which the conclusion forms 
the major premise of another, < v/>6, before, in 
front of, + <ni?,/oj iaji6<; , a conclusion, a conse- 
quence: see Hyllogism.] A syllogism of which 
the conclusion is a premise of another. 
A prosyllogism Is then when two syllogisms are so con- 
tained in flve propositions as that the conclusion of the 
first becomes the major or minor of the following. 
Burgrrsdieius, tr. by a Gentleman, II. 18. 
Eplchelrema denotes a syllogism which has a prosyllo- 
gim to establish each of Its premises. 
Atirntrr, Logic, p. 167. 
Prot. An abbreviation of Protestant. 
protactic (pro-tak'tik), a. [< (Jr. wpoTaKrixof, 
placing before, < itimraanuv, place before, < rrp6, 
before, in front, + raaativ, place, arrange: see 
tactic.] Being placed at the beginning; pre- 
vious. 
protagon (pro'ta-gon), . [NL., < Gr. v/iiJTof, 
first. + &vuv, ppr. of ayetv, lead, act : see agent. ] 
A phospbureted, fatty, crystalline substance, 
which forms a chief constituent of nervous tis- 
sue. Its composition has been represented by 
the formula CigoHgogNjjPOgs. 
Now It has recently been discovered that white or fibrous 
nerve-tissue is chemically distinguished from gray or vesic- 
ular nerve-tissue by the presence in large quantity of a 
substance called protagon. 
a. Spencer, Prin. of Psychol., i 34, note. 
protagonist (pro-tag'o-nist), . [< Gr. -apurayu- 
viarrK, a chief actor, < irpuros, first, + ayuviorfc, 
a combatant, pleader, actor: see agonist.] In 
the t;r. drama, the leading character or actor 
in a play; hence, in general, any leading char- 
acter. 
Tis charged upon me that I make debauched persons 
(such as they say my Astrologer and Gamester are) my 
protagonists, or the chief persons of the drama. 
Dryden, Mock Astrologer, Pref. 
It is impossible to read the books of the older prophets, 
and especially of their protagonist Amos, without seeing 
that the new thing which they are compelled to speak Is 
not Jehovah's grace, but His inexorable and righteous 
wrath. Encyc. Brit., XIX. 818. 
Protalcyonaria (pro-tal'si-o-na'ri-a), n. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. irparof, first, + NL. Aleyoimrin. 
q. v.] In some systems, an order of alcyona- 
rian polyps. 
protamnion (pro-tam'ni-on), n. [NL., < <4r. 
n-puTOf, first, + afiviov, amnion : see amnion.] A 
hypothetical primitive amniotic animal, the 
supposed ancestor or common parent-form of 
the Amnionata, or those vertebrates which are 
provided with an amnion. 
In external appearance the protamnion was probably an 
Intermediate form between the salamanders and the liz- 
ards. Haedcrl, Evol. of Man (trans.), II. 134. 
