proto-

1. a combining form meaning “first,” “foremost,” “earliest form of,” used in the formation of compound words ( protomartyr; protolithic; protoplasm ), specialized in chemical terminology to denote the first of a series of compounds, or the one containing the minimum amount of an element.

proto-

combining_form

1. indicating the first in time, order, or rank

   protomartyr

2. primitive, ancestral, or original

   prototype

3. indicating the reconstructed earliest stage of a language

   Proto-Germanic

4. indicating the first in a series of chemical compounds

   protoxide

5. indicating the parent of a chemical compound or an element

   protactinium

Word History and Origins

Origin of proto-¹

< Greek, combining form representing prôtos first, superlative formed from pró; pro- ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of proto-¹

from Greek prōtos first, from pro before; see pro- ²

Example Sentences

Although I featured Proto’s newer, round-bowl Rocket pipe in a long-ago gift guide, I figured it was high time to give the original design its due.

From Los Angeles Times

“Reality TV is almost always about reflecting our worries, obsessions and aspirations,” says David Nussbaum, whose firm Proto is behind the AI technology.

From BBC

Locally made paraphernalia options include glass pipes from CoolHandSuuze and an exclusive edition of the Proto Pipe, the Swiss Army knife of pot pipes, made just about 50 miles up the road in Willits.

From Los Angeles Times

“Reality TV is almost always about reflecting our worries, obsessions and aspirations,” says David Nussbaum, whose firm Proto is behind the AI technology.

From BBC

Locally made paraphernalia options include glass pipes from CoolHandSuuze and an exclusive edition of the Proto Pipe, the Swiss Army knife of pot pipes, made just about 50 miles up the road in Willits.

From Los Angeles Times