PROTESTATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does protestation mean? 

• PROTESTATION (noun)
  The noun PROTESTATION has 2 senses:

1. a formal and solemn declaration of objection

2. a strong declaration of protest

  Familiarity information: PROTESTATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROTESTATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A formal and solemn declaration of objection

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

protest; protestation

Context example:

the many protestations did not stay the execution

Hypernyms ("protestation" is a kind of...):

objection (the speech act of objecting)

Derivation:

protest (affirm or avow formally or solemnly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A strong declaration of protest

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("protestation" is a kind of...):

declaration (a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written))

Derivation:

protest (utter words of protest)

 Context examples 

And I could see that neither he nor the captain paid much regard to Mr. Trelawney's protestations.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

It is not by protestations that I shall endeavour to convince you I am wronged; it is not by telling you that my affections are steady.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

In the end, with loud protestations that he could lose like a gentleman, the cook’s last money was staked on the game—and lost.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Mrs. Weston kissed her with tears of joy; and when she could find utterance, assured her, that this protestation had done her more good than any thing else in the world could do.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

It shows itself in acts rather than in words, and has more influence than homilies or protestations.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Greatly to the astonishment of the passengers in the street, as well as of her relations going on before, the good soul was obliged to stop and embrace me on the spot, with many protestations of her unalterable love.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Oh no; as to leaving the little boy, both father and mother were in much too strong and recent alarm to bear the thought; and Anne, in the joy of the escape, could not help adding her warm protestations to theirs.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

She managed the recital, as she hoped, with address; prepared her anxious listener with caution; related simply and honestly the chief points on which Willoughby grounded his apology; did justice to his repentance, and softened only his protestations of present regard.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

But I do not pretend that my protestations should acquit me; I rest my innocence on a plain and simple explanation of the facts which have been adduced against me, and I hope the character I have always borne will incline my judges to a favourable interpretation where any circumstance appears doubtful or suspicious.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)