English
protest
Protest comes from Middle English protesten, from Old French protester, from Latin prōtestor (prō + testor), from testis ‘witness’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtestis‘witness’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtestor‘to testify’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprōtestor‘to declare publicly’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400protester
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500protesten
- Englishearliest quotation 1598–1599protest
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtestis‘witness’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtestor‘to testify’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprōtestor‘to declare publicly’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400protester
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500protesten
- Englishearliest quotation 1598–1599protest
Earliest quotation: 1598–1599, Much Adoe about Nothing: “I will protest your cowardice.”
Every English word from Latin testis
Today it means
verb To make a strong objection.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin testis / protest