Protract
/prəˈtrækt/noun
To draw out or lengthen in time or space.
Did you know?Protract comes from Latin trahere, “to draw,” the same ancient root behind words like tractor and abstract—so hidden inside it is the idea of pulling reality forward or away.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tragh-
“to draw or pull”
Latin
Latin
trahere
“to draw, pull, drag”
Latin
Latin
protrahere
“to draw forth, prolong”
Old French
Old French
protraire
“to prolong, delay”
Late Middle English
English
protracten
“to prolong or draw out”
Modern English
English
protract
“to extend or prolong in time”