proteu

See also: Proteu

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• próteo

Etymology

Derived from Ancient Greek Πρωτεύς (Prōteús), a sea god in Greek mythology who could change his shape at will.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /pɾoˈtew/ [pɾoˈteʊ̯]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /pɾuˈtew/

• Hyphenation: pro‧teu

Noun

proteu m (plural proteus)

1. (figurative) a fickle man
2. (derogatory) obsequious

   Synonyms: adulador, bajulador, áulico

3. olm (Proteus anguinus, a species of cave-dwelling salamander of the Dinaric Alps)

Related terms

• proteico

Further reading

• “proteu”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2025
• “proteu”, in Dicionário infopédia da Lingua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Porto: Porto Editora, 2003–2025
• “proteu”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2025
• proteu on the Portuguese Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^pt