proteus
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S: VINMEC – https://www.vinmec.com/eng/article/proteus-bacteria-cause-intestinal-disease-en (last access: 31 October 2024); NCBI – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=583&lvl=3 (last access: 31 October 2024).

N: 1. Proteus. c. 1400, Protheus, from Old French, ultimately from Greek Proteus, the name of the mythological sea-god who had the power of assuming different shapes at will (see Protean).

  • protean (adj): “of or pertaining to the Greek sea-god Proteus,” 1590s, from Greek Prōteus, son of Oceanus and Tethys, who could change his form at will; hence, “readily assuming different shapes, exceedingly variable.” His name is literally “first,” from prōtos “first” (see proto-).
  • amoeba (n): Type of microscopic protozoa, 1855, from Modern Latin Amoeba, genus name (1841 in English, said to have been used 1830 by German naturalist Christian Ehrenberg), from Greek amoibē “change, alteration; exchange,” which is related to ameibein “to change, exchange” (from an extended form of PIE root *mei- (1) “to change, go, move”). So called for its constantly changing shape. An earlier popular name for it was proteus (1660s). Related: Amoebic; amoebiform; amoeboid.

2. proteus (noun 1). protei (plural).

  • Any of a genus (Proteus) of aerobic usually motile enterobacteria that include saprophytes in decaying organic matter and a common causative agent (P. mirabilis) of urinary tract infections

Proteus (noun 2).

  • A Greek sea god capable of assuming different forms.

Noun (1). New Latin, from Latin, Proteus. First Known Use: 1896.

Noun (2). Latin, from Greek Prōteus. First Known Use: 15th century.

The first known use of proteus was in the 15th century.

3. amoeba, any of the microscopic unicellular protozoans of the rhizopodan order Amoebida. The well-known type species, Amoeba proteus, is found on decaying bottom vegetation of freshwater streams and ponds.

4. Bacterial diseases: Proteus.

  • A genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, made up of actively motile, pleomorphic organisms.
  • Colonies exhibit the swarming phenomenon. The organisms are found in fecal material, especially in patients treated with oral antibiotics, and are potential pathogens, associated with urinary tract infections, bacteremia, and abdominal and wound infections.

5. Cultural Interrelation: Proteus, in Greek mythology, the prophetic old man of the sea and shepherd of the sea’s flocks (e.g., seals). He was subject to the sea god Poseidon, and his dwelling place was either the island of Pharos, near the mouth of the Nile River, or the island of Carpathus, between Crete and Rhodes.

S: 1. MW – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proteus (last access: 31 October 2024). 3. (last access: 31 October 2024); Etymonline – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=proteus (last access: 31 October 2024). 2. MW – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proteus (last access: 31 October 2024). 3. EncBrit – https://www.britannica.com/science/amoeba-order (last access: 31 October 2024). 4. TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=proteus&index=alt&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 31 October 2024). 5. EncBrit – https://www.britannica.com/topic/Proteus-Greek-mythology (last access: 31 October 2024).

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CR: amoeba, Proteus syndrome.