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Webster 1913 Edition
Protagonist
Pro-tag′o-nist
,Noun.
[Gr.
πρωταγονιστής
; πρῶτοσ
first + ἀγονιστήσ
an actor, combatant, fr. ἀγών
a contest.] One who takes the leading part in a drama; hence, one who takes lead in some great scene, enterprise, conflict, or the like.
Shakespeare, the
protagonist
on the great of modern poetry. De Quincey.