Protest — Defs

01 v. i. To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow.

imp. & p. p. Protested; p. pr. & vb. n. Protesting

1.
To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow.
“He protest that his measures are pacific.” — Landor.

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” — Shak.
2.
To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of opposition; -- with against; as, he protest against your votes.
“The conscience has power . . . to protest againts the exorbitancies of the passions.” — Shak.

Syn. To affirm; asseverate; assert; aver; attest; testify; declare; profess. See Affirm.

02 v. t. To make a solemn declaration or affirmation of; to proclaim; to display; as, to protest one's loyalty.

1.
To make a solemn declaration or affirmation of; to proclaim; to display; as, to protest one's loyalty.
“I will protest your cowardice.” — Shak.
2.
To call as a witness in affirming or denying, or to prove an affirmation; to appeal to.
“Fiercely [they] opposed My journey strange, with clamorous uproar Protesting fate supreme.” — Milton.

Phrases & compounds

To protest a bill [or] note — to make a solemn written declaration, in due form, on behalf of the holder, against all parties liable for any loss or damage to be sustained by the nonacceptance or the nonpayment of the bill or note, as the case may be. This should be made by a notary public, whose seal it is the usual practice to affix.

03 n. A solemn declaration of opinion, commonly a formal objection against some act; especially, a formal and solemn declaration, in writing, of …

1.
A solemn declaration of opinion, commonly a formal objection against some act; especially, a formal and solemn declaration, in writing, of dissent from the proceedings of a legislative body; as, the protest of lords in Parliament.
2.
A solemn declaration in writing, in due form, made by a notary public, usually under his notarial seal, on behalf of the holder of a bill or note, protesting against all parties liable for any loss or damage by the nonacceptance or nonpayment of the bill, or by the nonpayment of the note, as the case may be.(Law)