n. [ Pref. pro- for, in place of + leg. ] (Zool.) One of the fleshy legs found on the abdominal segments of the larvæ of Lepidoptera, sawflies, and some other insects. Those of Lepidoptera have a circle of hooks. Called also proped, propleg, and falseleg. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. prolegatus; pro for + legatus legate. ] (Rom. Hist.) The deputy or substitute for a legate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of a prolegomenon; preliminary; introductory; prefatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Prolegomena [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, properly neut. pass. p. pr. of &unr_; to say beforehand; &unr_; before + &unr_; to say. ] A preliminary remark or observation; an introductory discourse prefixed to a book or treatise. D. Stokes (1659). Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;, from &unr_; to take beforehand; &unr_; before + &unr_; to take. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Rhet.) (a) A figure by which objections are anticipated or prevented. Abp. Bramhall. (b) A necessary truth or assumption; a first or assumed principle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chron.) An error in chronology, consisting in an event being dated before the actual time. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Gram.) The application of an adjective to a noun in anticipation, or to denote the result, of the action of the verb; as, to strike one dumb. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. proleptique. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Of or pertaining to prolepsis; anticipative. “A far-seeing or proleptic wisdom.” De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Previous; antecedent. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) Anticipating the usual time; -- applied to a periodical disease whose paroxysms return at an earlier hour at every repetition. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a proleptical manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) The art and science of predicting in medicine. Laycock. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. See Proletary. ] One of the common people; a low person; also, the common people as a class or estate in a country. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. proletaneus. ] Having a numerous offspring. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]