PROTIST

[pro.tist] n [NL Protista, fr. Gk, neut. pl. of protistos very first, primal, fr. superl. of protos first--more at prot-] (1889): any of a taxonomic group and esp. a kingdom (Protista) of unicellular, colonial, or multicellular organisms usu. including the protozoans and most algae and in various classifications prokaryotes, some or all fungi, and the sponges -- pro.tis.tan adj or n