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Proteus
ProteusProteus was an ancient Greek god also known as the old man of the sea. He served as a shepherd for the sea god Neptune*, watching over his flocks of seals. In return, Neptune gave Proteus the gift of prophecy. prophecy foretelling of what is to come; also something that is predicted Proteus possessed knowledge of all things—past, present, and future—but was reluctant to reveal his knowledge. He would answer questions only if caught. The only way to catch him was to sneak up on him at noontime when he took his daily nap. However, Proteus also had the ability to change shape at will. Once he was seized, it was necessary to hold him tightly until he returned to his natural form. Then he would answer any question put to him. The legend of Proteus gave rise to the term protean, which means able to assume different forms. See also Greek Mythology; Neptune. |
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"Proteus." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Proteus." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900403.html "Proteus." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900403.html |
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Proteus
Proteus in Greek mythology, a minor sea god, son of Oceanus and Tethys, who had the power of prophecy but who would assume different shapes to avoid answering questions; his name can be applied allusively to a changing, varying, or inconstant person or thing.
In 1989, the name Proteus was given to a satellite of Neptune, the sixth closest to the planet, discovered by the Voyager 2 space probe. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Proteus." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Proteus." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Proteus.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Proteus." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Proteus.html |
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Proteus
Proteus (family Enterobacteriaceae) A genus of Gram-negative bacteria in which the cells are usually rod-shaped, but may vary from ovoid to filamentous under certain conditions. They are motile, with many flagella. They are found chiefly in the intestines and faeces of animals, including humans. Some species can cause disease.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Proteus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Proteus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-Proteus.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Proteus." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-Proteus.html |
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Proteus
Proteus prō´tēəs, –tyōōs , in Greek mythology, prophetic old man of the sea who tended the seals of Poseidon. He could change himself into any shape he pleased, but if he were nevertheless seized and held, he would foretell the future. The word protean is derived from his name. |
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"Proteus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Proteus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Proteus.html "Proteus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Proteus.html |
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Proteus
Proteus In Greek mythology, a sea god, son of Oceanus and Tethys. He is depicted as a little old man of the sea. Proteus possessed the gift of prophecy and the ability to alter his form at will; in an instant he could become fire, flood or a wild beast.
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"Proteus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Proteus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Proteus.html "Proteus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Proteus.html |
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Proteus
Proteus (proh-ti-ŭs) n. a genus of rodlike Gram-negative flagellate highly motile bacteria common in the intestines and in decaying organic material. P. vulgaris a species that can cause urinary tract infections.
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"Proteus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Proteus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-Proteus.html "Proteus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-Proteus.html |
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proteus
proteus (Gr. and Rom. myth.) sea-god fabled to change his shape, transf. and fig. XVI; amoeba; genus of bacteria; genus of amphibians XIX. — L. — Gr. Proteús.
Hence protean changing, varying. XVI. |
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T. F. HOAD. "proteus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "proteus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-proteus.html T. F. HOAD. "proteus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-proteus.html |
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Proteus
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Proteus." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Proteus." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Proteus.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Proteus." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Proteus.html |
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Proteus
Proteus •Bierce, fierce, Pearce, Peirce, pierce, tierce
•Fabius, scabious
•Eusebius
•amphibious, Polybius
•dubious • Thaddeus • compendious
•radius • tedious
•fastidious, hideous, insidious, invidious, perfidious
•Claudius
•commodious, melodious, odious
•studious • Cepheus
•Morpheus, Orpheus
•Pelagius • callipygous • Vitellius
•alias, Sibelius, Vesalius
•Aurelius, Berzelius, contumelious, Cornelius, Delius
•bilious, punctilious, supercilious
•coleus • Julius • nucleus • Equuleus
•abstemious
•Ennius, Nennius
•contemporaneous, cutaneous, extemporaneous, extraneous, instantaneous, miscellaneous, Pausanias, porcellaneous, simultaneous, spontaneous, subcutaneous
•genius, heterogeneous, homogeneous, ingenious
•consanguineous, ignominious, Phineas, sanguineous
•igneous, ligneous
•Vilnius
•acrimonious, antimonious, ceremonious, erroneous, euphonious, felonious, harmonious, parsimonious, Petronius, sanctimonious, Suetonius
•Apollonius • impecunious
•calumnious • Asclepius • impious
•Scorpius
•copious, Gropius, Procopius
•Marius • pancreas • retiarius
•Aquarius, calcareous, Darius, denarius, gregarious, hilarious, multifarious, nefarious, omnifarious, precarious, Sagittarius, senarius, Stradivarius, temerarious, various, vicarious
•Atreus
•delirious, Sirius
•vitreous
•censorious, glorious, laborious, meritorious, notorious, uproarious, uxorious, vainglorious, victorious
•opprobrious
•lugubrious, salubrious
•illustrious, industrious
•cinereous, deleterious, imperious, mysterious, Nereus, serious, Tiberius
•curious, furious, injurious, luxurious, penurious, perjurious, spurious, sulphureous (US sulfureous), usurious
•Cassius, gaseous
•Alcaeus • Celsius
•Theseus, Tiresias
•osseous, Roscius
•nauseous
•caduceus, Lucius
•Perseus • Statius • Propertius
•Deo gratias • plenteous • piteous
•bounteous
•Grotius, Photius, Proteus
•beauteous, duteous
•courteous, sestertius
•Boethius, Prometheus
•envious • Octavius
•devious, previous
•lascivious, niveous, oblivious
•obvious
•Vesuvius, Vitruvius
•impervious, pervious
•aqueous • subaqueous • obsequious
•Dionysius
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Cite this article
"Proteus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Proteus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Proteus.html "Proteus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Proteus.html |
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