protagonist

From Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs, “a chief actor”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”).

Surface analysis prot- (“first”) +‎ agonist (“combatant, participant”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹəˈtæ.ɡə.nɪst/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pɹoʊˈtæ.ɡə.nɪst/

• Audio (US)

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protagonist (plural protagonists)

1. (authorship) The main character, or one of the main characters, in any story, such as a literary work or drama.

   Antonym: antagonist

2. A leading person in a contest; a principal performer.
3. (proscribed) An advocate or champion of a cause or course of action.

The use of protagonist to mean a proponent or supporter of a cause is a 20th century development that may have been influenced by the misunderstanding that the first syllable of the word is the prefix pro-, meaning favouring.[1] This usage is widely considered to be erroneous.[2][3]

• deuteragonist
• tritagonist

• agonist
• agonistes

• protagonist in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• protagonist in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

protagonist c (singular definite protagonisten, plural indefinite protagonister)

1. (literature) protagonist

   Antonym: hovedperson

• “protagonist” in Den Danske Ordbog