protagonist

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An advocate or champion of a cause or course of action.

   It was toward the end of the sixteenth century that the communities in Venice, Mantua, Ferrara, Padua, and Casale Monferrato, inspired by the Renaissance music, wanted to introduce some modernization into the service. The greatest protagonist of the idea was the encyclopedic Jewish scholar Leon of Modena.

2. 2
   noun

   the principal character in a work of fiction

3. 3
   noun

   a person who backs a politician or a team etc.

4. 4
   noun

   The main character, or one of the main characters, in any story, such as a literary work or drama.

5. 5
   noun

   A leading person in a contest; a principal performer.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πρωταγωνιστής (prōtagōnistḗs, “a chief actor”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”). By surface analysis, prot- (“first”) + agonist (“combatant, participant”).