pro-
pro-2 repr. comb. form of Gr. pró before (of time, position, priority), as in problem, programme, prologue, prophet, prostate; in recent scientific terms denoting (1) ‘earlier’, ‘primitive’; prochronism, referring something to a too early date XVII; propaedeutic pert. to preliminary instruction (Gr. propaideúein teach beforehand) XIX; (2) ‘anterior’ (of position), ‘front’, as procephalic pert. to the fore-part of the head, prognathous having projecting jaws (Gr. gnáthos jaw) XIX.
pro-
pro-1 repr. comb. form of L. adv.-prep. prō (see PRO1) having a var. prōd- as in prodigal; as a living prefix chiefly in the senses (1) ‘for’, ‘instead of’, ‘in place of’, as pro-cathedral; ‘acting as a deputy’, in imitation of, as proconsul; (2) ‘on the side of’, ‘favouring’, as in pro-German, pro-war.
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