protosyntax

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noun

That part of syntax that omits membership.

“For quotations using this term, see Citations:protosyntax.”

OriginEnglish syntax ← Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-) ← Proto-Indo-European *pró →
Scrabble 23
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Meanings

nounprotosyntax (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThat part of syntax that omits membership.

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:protosyntax.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
  4. Ancient Greekπρό (pró)
  5. Ancient Greekπρῶτος (prôtos)
  6. Ancient Greekπρωτο- (prōto-)
  7. Englishproto-
  8. Englishsyntax
  9. Englishprotosyntax

From proto- + syntax.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

protosyntax. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protosyntax

MLA

“protosyntax.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protosyntax. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “protosyntax,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protosyntax.

Source: protosyntax on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.