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Protean, a. (n.)|ˈprəʊtiːən, prəʊˈtiːən|
Also protean.
[f. Proteus + -an: cf. F. Protéen.]
A. adj.
a. Of or pertaining to Proteus; like that of Proteus; hence, taking or existing in various shapes, variable in form; characterized by variability or variation; variously manifested or expressed; changing, varying.
1598Marston Pygmal. ii, I shall stand in doubt What sex thou art, since such Hermaphrodites Such Protean shadowes so delude our sights. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 793 Hee escaped by his Protean Arts; now appearing like an Eagle, the second time like a Tygre, the third like a Serpent. 1679Establ. Test 3 Their Protean Faculties of Dissimulation, Perjury, and Putting on so many Shapes. 1834–5J. Phillips Geol. in Encycl. Metrop. VI. 559/2 Its geological relations should always be consulted before deciding on the name of this Protean rock. 1859Darwin Orig. Spec. ii. (1878) 35 Genera which have been called ‘protean’ or ‘polymorphic’, in which the species present an inordinate amount of variation. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. xiv. 97 The scene had time to go through several of its Protean mutations. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 346 General paralysis is of necessity a protean malady.
b. spec. Zool. Varying in shape; of or pertaining to the proteus-animalcule; amœboid, amœbiform, proteiform.
1802Bingley Anim. Biog. (1813) III. 492 The Protean Vibrio... A species which has derived its name from its very singular power of assuming different shapes. 1835–6Todd's Cycl. Anat. I. 645/1 The Protean animals..do not undergo..any further metamorphosis.
c. Of a theatrical performer: characterized by the ability to take several parts in the same piece; quick-change; also transf. of such a performance. orig. U.S. Cf. sense B 1 b.
1897Daily Tel. 10 Mar. 4/5 Few will deny that Leopoldi Fregoli..is..alert, versatile, neat in his business, quick as lightning in his changes, and..the best ‘protean’ entertainer that the oldest playgoer has ever seen. 1909Webster, Pro'te-an... 3..Theat. Noting an actor who plays different parts in a play; hence, noting a performance of this kind. Slang. 1952Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 145 Protean act, an act performed by a: Protean entertainer, a lightning-change artiste. An impersonator. 1961Bowman & Ball Theatre Lang. 282 Protean actor, protean artist. Hence protean act, protean drama, etc.
d. Of animal behaviour: unpredictable, following no obvious pattern.
1959Chance & Russell in Proc. Zool. Soc. CXXXII. 67 We therefore propose the term ‘Protean Displays’. The mythical Proteus frustrated would-be captors by constantly changing his shape, so that they had nothing systematic to which to react. Ibid. 68 Protean displays involve rapid, sudden transitions, as one obvious component of their confusing effect. 1967New Scientist 13 July 96/2 The term protean behaviour was coined to cover behaviour that is sufficiently unsystematic to prevent the predator from predicting in detail the positions, actions or both, of the prey. 1970Nature 6 June 968/1 We have surveyed the occurrence of such protean behaviours and defined them as behaviours which are sufficiently unsystematic in appearance to prevent a reactor predicting in detail the position and/or actions of the actor. Ibid., The erratic nature of a protean display defeats anticipation by the predator.
B. n.
†1.
a. One who constantly changes; an inconstant or equivocal person. Obs. rare—1.
1598Marston Pygmal. ii, These same Proteans, whose hipocrisie, Doth still abuse our fond credulity.
b. An actor who takes several parts in the same piece. orig. U.S.
1890in Cent. Dict.
2. Zool. = proteid2 (Cent. Dict. 1890).
Hence ˈProteanly adv. rare—1, in a protean manner, with variation of form.
1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. i. §29. 36 Matter..only Proteanly transformed into different shapes.
Add: ˈproteanism n., capacity for change; changeableness, variability.
1951R. Hargreaves This Happy Breed vii. 77 The proteanism of his endless duties knows no limitation. 1982Times Lit. Suppl. 9 Apr. 404/2 Some writers sport their proteanism like a badge of their power. |