Protasis1. (n.) A proposition; a maxim.
2. (n.) The introductory or subordinate member of a sentence, generally of a conditional sentence; -- opposed to apodosis. See Apodosis.
3. (n.) The first part of a drama, of a poem, or the like; the introduction; opposed to epitasis.
Thesaurus Entries
aggravated assault, aggression, amphibious attack, armed assault, assailing, assailment, assault, attack, avant-propos, banzai attack, blitz, blitzkrieg, boost, charge, coinage, counterattack, counteroffensive, coup de main, crippling attack, dead set at, descent on, discovery, diversion, diversionary attack, drive, exordium, flank attack, foreword, front matter, frontal attack, frontispiece, gas attack, head-on attack, hike, increase, infiltration, innovation, introduction, invention, leap, lightning attack, lightning war, mass attack, megadeath, mugging, neologism, new phase, novelty, offense, offensive, onset, onslaught, overkill, overture, panzer warfare, postulate, preamble, preface, prefix, prefixture, preliminary, prelude, premise, presupposition, proem, prolegomena, prolegomenon, prolepsis, prologue, protasis, push, run against, run at, rush, sally, shock tactics, sortie, strike, unprovoked assault, upgrade, verse, voluntary, wax