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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

protean

Adjective

IPA /ˈprəʊtiən/

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Meaning in plain English

Able to change form or character in many different ways.

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Pronunciation

protean/ˈprəʊtiən/

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  1. One performer

  2. Many different roles and characters

Protean talent can take many forms.

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  1. The actor's protean talent lets her disappear into very different roles.
  2. Our essay explores the protean identity of the novel's narrator.

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The actor's ________ talent lets her disappear into very different roles.
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protean — Able to change form or character in many different ways.

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Able to change form or character in many different ways.

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Word origin

From Proteus, a figure in Greek mythology who could change his shape.

Did you know?

Protean nature and protean talent emphasise variety and changeability.

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protean

/ˈprəʊtiən/ (Adjective)

“Literary: protean describes changing form or character. It is unrelated in meaning to the food nutrient protein.”

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