- protract
- 1535 (implied in protraction), "prolongation, extension of time," from L.L. protractionem "a drawing out or lengthening," from pp. stem of protrahere, from pro- "forward" + trahere "to draw" (see tract (1)). Etymologically identical with portray, which was altered in French. Protractor "one who lengthens (an action)" is from 1611; sense of "instrument for drawing angles" first recorded 1658.