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Webster 1913 Edition


Proteus

Pro′te-us

,
p
rop.
Noun.
[L., Gr. [GREEK].]
1.
(Class. Myth.)
A sea god in the service of Neptune who assumed different shapes at will. Hence, one who easily changes his appearance or principles.
3.
A changeable protozoan; an amoeba.

Webster 1828 Edition


Proteus

PRO'TEUS

,
Noun.
[L.] In mythology, a marine deity,the son of Oceanus and Tethys, whose distinguishing characteristic was the faculty of assuming different shapes. Hence we denominate one who easily changes his form or principles, a Proteus.

Definition 2024


Proteus

Proteus

See also: proteus

Translingual

Proteus anguinus (olm)
Proteus mirabilis (bacterium)

Etymology

After Ancient Greek Πρωτεύς (Prōteús, a god who could change his shape at will).

Proper noun

Proteus m

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Proteidae – the single amphibian species Proteus anguinus (the olm).
  2. A taxonomic genus within the family Enterobacteriaceae – several bacteria responsible for human urinary tract infections.

Hypernyms

Hyponyms


English

Proper noun

Proteus

  1. (Greek mythology) A sea god who could change his shape at will.
  2. (astronomy) The sixth satellite of the planet Neptune

Translations

Derived terms

Anagrams

proteus

proteus

See also: Proteus

English

Wikispecies

Noun

proteus (plural protei)

  1. Any of many gram-negative bacteria, of the genus Proteus, several of which are responsible for human infections.

Anagrams