PRO-test and pro-TEST: The Noun and the Verb
A protest is a public objection. The verb shifts the stress, and it also means to declare something firmly, as in protesting your innocence.
A protest is a public expression of objection. The verb has a second sense people often miss: to protest something can mean to declare it firmly, which is why a defendant *protests his innocence* rather than objecting to it. The Latin *protestari* means to declare publicly.
- A public objection. *A peaceful protest.*
- To object publicly. *They protested outside the embassy.*
- To declare firmly. *She protested her innocence.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | protest | A silent protest. |
| Verb | protest | Protest the decision. |
| Person | protester | Hundreds of protesters. |
| Adjective | protesting | Protesting crowds. |
| Related | Protestant | The Protestant Reformation. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Thousands joined the protest.Noun, stressed PRO-test.
- They protested against the closure.British usage adds against.
- He protested his innocence throughout.Declaring, not objecting.
Forms of protest
- March — moving through public space
- Rally — a gathering with speeches
- Picket — standing outside a workplace
- Sit-in — occupying a space by staying put
- Boycott — refusing to buy or take part
From Latin *protestari*, to declare publicly, from *pro* and *testari*, to bear witness — the same root as *testify* and *testament*. *Protestant* comes from the same word, from a formal declaration made in 1529.
Protest or protest against?
American English says protest the decision; British English adds against. Both are correct in their own varieties.
Why are Protestants called that?
From a formal protestation made by reforming princes at the Diet of Speyer in 1529. It meant a declaration, not merely an objection.