ˌprä]d.ə̇ˈstāshən, -rō], ]tə̇-, -rōˌteˈs- sometimes -räˌte- or -räd.ˌe- or -rōd.ˌe-\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English protestacioun, from Middle French protestation, from Late Latin protestation-, protestatio, from Latin protestatus (past participle of protestari to protest) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at protest
1. : the act of protesting or solemnly declaring existent or true : a public avowal : serious assertion
with some proper protestations of modesty — W.A.White
2. : a declaration in common-law pleading by which the party interposes an oblique allegation or denial of some fact protesting that it does or does not exist or is or is not sufficient in law and at the same time avoiding the duplicity of a direct affirmation or denial
3. : a formal or documentary declaration of dissent, disapproval, or objection
organizes these data around eight specific protestations — R.L.Roy