▪ I. protracting, vbl. n.
(prəʊˈtræktɪŋ)
[f. protract v. + -ing1.]
The action of protract v.
1. Lengthening out, prolonging, extending (of time, or of action in time); † dilatory action (obs.).
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI 89 b, The duke of Bedford..not content with their whisperynges and protractyng of tyme. 1563 Golding Cæsar i. (1565) 31 b, The Galles were now weary with long protracting of the war. 1601 W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. (1602) 75 The tedious and odious protracting of suits. 1622 Callis Stat. Sewers (1647) 114 If any danger be likely to ensue by the protracting of time. |
† b. The putting off or postponement of an action; deferring. Obs.
| 1581 Savile Tacitus, Hist. iii. xx. (1591) 125 More oftentimes profiteth and helpeth hee by protracting, then venturing rashly. 1608 Mem. in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) 76 The protracting of a plantation until the Ward come to years. |
2. Extending in space. rare.
| a 1658 [see protract v. 5]. |
3. Drawing or plotting out to scale; delineation.
| 1669 Staynred Fortification Title-p., The Scale, for speedy Protracting of any Fort. 1766 Compl. Farmer s.v. Surveying, These squares and long squares need no protracting; for you need only to multiply the chains and links of the length, by the chains and links of the breadth. |
4. attrib. and Comb., denoting instruments used in protracting (sense 3), as protracting-bevel, protracting-needle, protracting-pin; protracting quadrant, a protractor.
| 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. iv. xi. 178 To know the Rhomb between any two Places..by a Protracting Quadrant. 1701 Moxon Math. Instr. 16 Protracting Pin, a taper piece of brass with a Point of Silver, to draw black Lines on Mathematical Paper, and a small Head..which holds a fine Needle to prick off any Degree and part from the Protractor. 1766 Compl. Farmer s.v. Surveying, Having drawn lines with the point of the compasses, or a protracting-needle, the intersections represent the angles. 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., Protracting-bevel, a plotting-instrument having a protracting sector and a prolongation of one radius, which forms a rule. |
▪ II. protracting, ppl. a.
(prəʊˈtræktɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That protracts, delays, or defers; delaying, time-consuming.
| 1600 R. Church Fumée's Hist. Hungary 29 He might rather molest them by a protracting fight. 1822 ‘B. Cornwall’ Dram. Scenes, Jul. the Apostate i, Never! A dull, protracting, melancholy word That in an alien language, talks despair. |