Library / English Dictionary

PROTRACT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer

Example:

The meeting was drawn out until midnight

Synonyms:

draw out; extend; prolong; protract

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "protract" is one way to...):

lengthen (make longer)

Verb group:

carry; extend (continue or extend)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "protract"):

extend (prolong the time allowed for payment of)

temporise; temporize (draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time)

spin; spin out (prolong or extend)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

protraction (the act of prolonging something)

protraction (the consequence of being lengthened in duration)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Mr. Knightley, who had nothing of ceremony about him, was offering by his short, decided answers, an amusing contrast to the protracted apologies and civil hesitations of the other.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

His two dogs were missing, and he well knew that they had served as a course in the protracted meal which had begun days before with Fatty, the last course of which would likely be himself in the days to follow.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Stimulated by the silent monitor within, and by a no less touching and appealing monitor without—to whom I will briefly refer as Miss W. I entered on a not unlaborious task of clandestine investigation, protracted—now, to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, over a period exceeding twelve calendar months.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But I feel mine is not the existence to be long protracted under an Indian sun.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I am too well aware that when, in the inscrutable decrees of Fate, you were reserved for me, it is possible you may have been reserved for one, destined, after a protracted struggle, at length to fall a victim to pecuniary involvements of a complicated nature.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Business now began, the day's Collect was repeated, then certain texts of Scripture were said, and to these succeeded a protracted reading of chapters in the Bible, which lasted an hour.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I almost wondered they did not check their songs and whispers to catch the suspended revelation; but they would have had to wait many minutes—so long was the silence protracted.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Mr. St. John came but once: he looked at me, and said my state of lethargy was the result of reaction from excessive and protracted fatigue.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Such was the characteristic of Helen's discourse on that, to me, memorable evening; her spirit seemed hastening to live within a very brief span as much as many live during a protracted existence.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A peep, and then a long stare; and then a departure from my niche and a straying out into the meadow; and a sudden stop full in front of the great mansion, and a protracted, hardy gaze towards it.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)