Origin

from Greek proteros fore, former

protero-

Word Origin

a combining form meaning “earlier,” “before,” “former,” used in the formation of compound words:

proterotype.

Also, especially before a vowel, proter-.

Compare proto-.

Origin

< Greek, combining form representing próteros, comparative formed from pró; see pro-²

Related Words

proterotype
Proterozoic

protero-|prɒtərəʊ|before a vowel proter- |prɒtər|, combining form from Gr. πρότερος fore, former, anterior, in place, time, order, rank; used in a few scientific terms.ˈproterobase |-beɪs| Min. [after diabase], an eruptive rock resembling diabase, but in a more advanced stage of alteration. ˌproteroˈglossate a. Zool. [Gr. γλῶσσα tongue], belonging to Günther's division Proteroglossa of batrachians, having the tongue free in front. ˈproterosaur |-sɔː(r)| [Gr. σαῦρος lizard], a saurian of the extinct genus Proterosaurus or group Proterosauria, comprising some of the oldest known reptiles; so ˌproteroˈsaurian a., belonging to the Proterosauria; n. a proterosaur. ˈproterotome |-təʊm| a. Zool. [Gr. -τοµος cutting], applied to mastication in which the molars of the lower jaw move forwards against those of the upper, as in the Carnivora. ˌproteroˈzoic a. Geol. [cf. protozoic]: see quots. See also proterandrous, proterogynous, etc.[1872Nicholson Palæont. 356 In the Permian Rocks the first undoubted Reptilian remains occur, the *Proterosaurus of this period being probably a Lacertilian.]1896Cope Primary Factors Evol. vi. 318 The inferior molar shears forwards on the superior molar. *Proterotome mastication.1905Chamberlin & Salisbury Geol. I. i. 17 In these four great series of sedimentary rocks there are, here and there, intrusions of igneous rocks, and in some places the sedimentary beds have been metamorphosed into crystalline rocks by heat and pressure. This is particularly true in the lowest of these series, the *Proterozoic, where a large part of the sediment is metamorphosed, and where there is much igneous rock.Ibid. II. iv. 162 To the *Proterozoic era is assigned the time that elapsed between the close of the formation of the igneous complex and the beginning of the lowest system which is now known to contain abundant well-preserved fossils. [Note] Proterozoic, as here used, is a synonym of Algonkian as used by the U.S. Geol. Surv.1906Athenæum 18 Aug. 191/2 Between the close of this long archæan period and the beginning of the palæozoic ages..there was another vast stretch of geological time, distinguished as the Proterozoic era.1971Nature 25 June 498/1 The establishment of global subdivisions for the Upper (Late) Pre-Cambrian, or the Proterozoic, is particularly important.1977A. Hallam Planet Earth 189 The Proterozoic was, compared with the Archaean, dominantly a period of crustal reworking.

protero-

before vowels proter-, word-forming element meaning "former, earlier," from comb. form of Greek proteros "before, former, anterior," from PIE *pro-, from root *per- (1) "forward, through" (see per).

protero- /ˈprɒt(ə)rəʊ/ combining form. Before a vowel also proter-.

ORIGIN: from Greek proteros: see -o-.

Former, anterior; first in place, time, order, rank, etc.

DERIVATIVE proteroˈgenesis noun (Biology, now chiefly hist.) the appearance in the early stages of an organism's life of features characteristic of adult forms of its evolutionary descendants M20.
proteroglyph noun (Zoology) a venomous snake having grooved fangs fixed upright in the front of the mouth L19.
proteroˈglyphous adjective (Zoology) pertaining to or of the nature of a proteroglyph L19.

protero-
combining form
see proter-

protero-

Prefix

First, earliest, early.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πρότερος (próteros, “earlier, first, primary”)

Related terms

proto-

词汇	protero-
词根词缀	Collins Dictionary.com OED Online Etymology Dictionary SOED Webster Wiktionary protero- combining form anterior or former in time, place, order, etc ⇒ proterozoic Origin from Greek proteros fore, former protero- Word Origin 1 a combining form meaning “earlier,” “before,” “former,” used in the formation of compound words: proterotype. Also, especially before a vowel, proter-. Compare proto-. Origin < Greek, combining form representing próteros, comparative formed from pró; see pro-² Related Words proterotype Proterozoic protero-\|prɒtərəʊ\|before a vowel proter- \|prɒtər\|, combining form from Gr. πρότερος fore, former, anterior, in place, time, order, rank; used in a few scientific terms.ˈproterobase \|-beɪs\| Min. [after diabase], an eruptive rock resembling diabase, but in a more advanced stage of alteration. ˌproteroˈglossate a. Zool. [Gr. γλῶσσα tongue], belonging to Günther's division Proteroglossa of batrachians, having the tongue free in front. ˈproterosaur \|-sɔː(r)\| [Gr. σαῦρος lizard], a saurian of the extinct genus Proterosaurus or group Proterosauria, comprising some of the oldest known reptiles; so ˌproteroˈsaurian a., belonging to the Proterosauria; n. a proterosaur. ˈproterotome \|-təʊm\| a. Zool. [Gr. -τοµος cutting], applied to mastication in which the molars of the lower jaw move forwards against those of the upper, as in the Carnivora. ˌproteroˈzoic a. Geol. [cf. protozoic]: see quots. See also proterandrous, proterogynous, etc.[1872Nicholson Palæont. 356 In the Permian Rocks the first undoubted Reptilian remains occur, the Proterosaurus of this period being probably a Lacertilian.]1896Cope Primary Factors Evol.* vi. 318 The inferior molar shears forwards on the superior molar. Proterotome mastication.1905Chamberlin & Salisbury Geol.* I. i. 17 In these four great series of sedimentary rocks there are, here and there, intrusions of igneous rocks, and in some places the sedimentary beds have been metamorphosed into crystalline rocks by heat and pressure. This is particularly true in the lowest of these series, the Proterozoic, where a large part of the sediment is metamorphosed, and where there is much igneous rock.Ibid. II. iv. 162 To the Proterozoic era is assigned the time that elapsed between the close of the formation of the igneous complex and the beginning of the lowest system which is now known to contain abundant well-preserved fossils. [Note] Proterozoic, as here used, is a synonym of Algonkian as used by the U.S. Geol. Surv.1906Athenæum 18 Aug. 191/2 Between the close of this long archæan period and the beginning of the palæozoic ages..there was another vast stretch of geological time, distinguished as the Proterozoic era.1971Nature 25 June 498/1 The establishment of global subdivisions for the Upper (Late) Pre-Cambrian, or the Proterozoic, is particularly important.1977A. Hallam Planet Earth 189 The Proterozoic was, compared with the Archaean, dominantly a period of crustal reworking. protero- before vowels proter-, word-forming element meaning "former, earlier," from comb. form of Greek proteros "before, former, anterior," from PIE pro-, from root per- (1) "forward, through" (see per). protero- /ˈprɒt(ə)rəʊ/ combining form. Before a vowel also proter-. ORIGIN: from Greek proteros: see -o-. Former, anterior; first in place, time, order, rank, etc. DERIVATIVE proteroˈgenesis noun (Biology, now chiefly hist.) the appearance in the early stages of an organism's life of features characteristic of adult forms of its evolutionary descendants M20. proteroglyph noun (Zoology) a venomous snake having grooved fangs fixed upright in the front of the mouth L19. proteroˈglyphous adjective (Zoology) pertaining to or of the nature of a proteroglyph L19. protero- combining form see proter- protero- Prefix First, earliest, early. Etymology From Ancient Greek πρότερος (próteros, “earlier, first, primary”) Related terms proto-
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