I.Inf. protraxe for protraxisse, Lucr. 5, 1159), v. a., to draw or drag forth, to bring forth or out, pull out, to draw to a place (class.; cf.: promo, profero).
I. Lit., Cels. 7, 12, 1: “aliquem e tentorio,” Tac. H. 4, 27: “me istam capillo protracturum in viam,” Plaut. Merc. 4, 4, 58: “aliquem hinc in convivium,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 10, § 24: “Calchanta in medios,” Verg. A. 2, 123: “aliquem in medium manibus suis,” Suet. Ner. 53: “ad operas mercenarias statim protrahi,” Cic. Phil. 1, 9, 22: “pedibusque informe cadaver (Caci) Protrahitur,” Verg. A. 8, 265: “multa siti protracta corpora,” Lucr. 6, 1264: “e tentorio,” Tac. H. 4, 27.—
II. Trop.
A. In gen., to drag forth, to draw or bring anywhere: “aliquid in lucem,” Lucr. 4, 1189: “ad gestum pueros,” id. 5, 1031: “quidquid paulatim protrahit aetas In medium,” id. 5, 1387 dub. (v. Lachm. II. p. 346): “indicem ad indicium,” Liv. 33, 28: “nudi in medium protrahebantur,” id. 28, 29. —
B. In partic.
1. To bring to light, discover, disclose, reveal, expose, betray: “auctorem nefandi facinoris,” Liv. 45, 5: “inimicum,” id. 44, 26: “facinus per indicium,” id. 27, 3: “publicanorum fraudes,” Vell. 2, 92, 2: “nec meus indicio latitantes versus amicus Protraheret,” Ov. Tr. 3, 4, 71.—
2. To lengthen out any thing as to time, to prolong, protract, defer (post-Aug.; “syn.: produco, propago): protrahere ac differre stipendia militum,” Suet. Ner. 32: “convivia in primam lucem,” id. Caes. 52; cf.: “epulas a medio die ad mediam noctem,” id. Ner. 27: “in serum dimicatione protractā,” id. Aug. 17: “sermones,” Vulg. Act. 20, 7.—Pass. in mid. force: quid diutius protrahor? why dwell longer on this? Vop. Tac. 6.—Absol.: “quinque horas protraxit,” i. e. he lingered for five hours, Suet. Ner. 33 fin.—
3. To weary, detain too long: “ne diutius te protraham,” Vulg. Act. 24, 4.—
4. To extend, increase (post-class.): “utrum hoc usque ad Graecum sermonem tantum protrahimus, an verum et ad alium ... dubitari potest,” Dig. 45, 1, 1 fin.: “insolentiam,” Val. Max. 1, 5, 8 (al. pertraheret).—
5. To bring or reduce to: “ad paupertatem protractus,” Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 72.
