n. [ L. protoplastus the first man, Gr. &unr_; formed or created first; &unr_; first + &unr_; formed, fr. &unr_; to form. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The thing first formed; that of which there are subsequent copies or reproductions; the original. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) A first-formed organized body; the first individual, or pair of individuals, of a species. [ 1913 Webster ]

A species is a class of individuals, each of which is hypothetically considered to be the descendant of the same protoplast, or of the same pair of protoplasts. Latham. [ 1913 Webster ]

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‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Zool.) A division of fresh-water rhizopods including those that have a soft body and delicate branched pseudopodia. The genus Gromia is one of the best-known. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. First-formed. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]