Protect Definition

prə-tĕkt

protected, protecting, protects

verb

To shield from injury, danger, or loss; guard; defend.

Webster's New World

To keep from being subjected to difficulty or unpleasantness.

A mother who wanted to protect her children from the troubles she had seen when growing up.

American Heritage

To keep from being curtailed or exposed to risk.

The reporter vowed to protect the privacy of his sources.

American Heritage

To guard (domestic industry) as by tariffs on imported products.

Webster's New World

To set aside funds toward the payment of (a note, draft, etc.) at maturity.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Protect

Attested in English since 1530, from Latin protectus (“covered, protected"), past participle of protegere (“to cover the front, protect") from pro- + tegere (“to cover"). More at thatch. Displaced native Middle English helien, forhelian (“to conceal, protect") (from Old English helian, forhelian (“to conceal, cover, hide"), Middle English bischilden, beschielden (“to protect") (from Middle English schild, shelde (“shield")), Middle English berwen, bergen (“to protect, preserve") (from Old English beorgan (“to protect, preserve")), Middle English mundien, mounden (“to protect") (from Old English mundian (“to protect, watch over, act as guardian over")).

From Wiktionary
Middle English protecten from Latin prōtegere prōtēct- prō- in front pro–¹ tegere to cover (s)teg- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition