Definition of Proteus

1. Noun. (Greek mythology) a prophetic god who served Poseidon; was capable of changing his shape at will.

Category relationships: Greek Mythology
Generic synonyms: Greek Deity
Derivative terms: Protean

2. Noun. Type genus of the Proteidae.
Exact synonyms: Genus Proteus
Generic synonyms: Amphibian Genus
Group relationships: Family Proteidae, Proteidae
Member holonyms: Olm, Proteus Anguinus

Definition of Proteus

1. n. A sea god in the service of Neptune who assumed different shapes at will. Hence, one who easily changes his appearance or principles.

Definition of Proteus

1. Proper noun. (Greek god) A sea god who could change his shape at will. ¹

2. Proper noun. (astronomy) The sixth satellite of the planet Neptune ¹

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

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Proteus

1. one that readily changes his appearance or principles [n -ES] / any of a genus of aerobic bacteria [n -TEI]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Proteus

Proterozoic eon
Protestancy
Protestant
Protestant Church
Protestant Episcopal Church
Protestant Movement
Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reich Church
Protestant deacon
Protestant denomination
Protestant ethic
Protestant work ethic
Protestantism
Protestantly
Protestants
Proteus
Proteus anguinus
Proth number
Protista
Protium
Protium guianense
Protium heptaphyllum
Proto-Afro-Asiatic
Proto-Albanian
Proto-Algonquian
Proto-Altaic
Proto-Armenian
Proto-Athabaskan
Proto-Austronesian

Literary usage of Proteus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1919)
"Allusions to proteus refer to his power of assuming many forms, as in the adjective, ... proteus, a remarkable genus of urodele amphibians allied to the ..."

2. A Text-book of General Bacteriology by Edwin Oakes Jordan (1921)
"In certain affections of the digestive tract proteus has been frequently held to be ... The real relation of proteus to intestinal infections is, however, ..."

3. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1916)
"Leidy in 1879 described in detail several species of amebas and to one of these species he applied the name Amoeba proteus, resurrecting Pallas's (1766) old ..."

4. The Americana: A Universal Reference Library, Comprising the Arts and ...edited by Frederick Converse Beach, George Edwin Rines edited by Frederick Converse Beach, George Edwin Rines (1912)
"Allusions to proteus refer to his power of assuming many forms, ... Herodotus relates that proteus as king of Egypt entertained Paris and Helen, ..."

5. The Works of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England by Francis Bacon, Basil Montagu (1852)
"THE poets say that proteus was Neptune's herdsman; a grave sire, and so excellent ... For under the person of proteus, the first matter, which, next to God, ..."

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