Etymology of the English word protagonist
the English word
protagonistderived from the Greek word
protagonistes, πρωταγωνιστής
derived from the Greek word
agonistes, ἀγωνιστής (rival)
derived from the Greek word
agon, ἀγών (properly, a place of assembly (as if led); a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety)
derived from the Greek word
agein, ἄγω
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ag-derived from the Greek word
protos, πρῶτος (first; foremost (in time, place, order or importance))
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*perderived from the Greek word
agonizesthai, ἀγωνίζεσθαι
derived from the Greek word
agon, ἀγών (properly, a place of assembly (as if led); a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety)
derived from the Greek word
agein, ἄγω
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ag-Date
The earliest known usage of protagonist in English dates from the 17th century.
Cognates
Dutch
protagonist, French
protagonist, German
ProtagonistUsage
Word found in Modern English
