Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Proteus"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Proteus \Pro"te*us\, n. [L., Gr. ?.]
1. (Class. Myth.) A sea god in the service of Neptune who
assumed different shapes at will. Hence, one who easily
changes his appearance or principles.
2. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A genus of aquatic eel-shaped amphibians found in
caves in Austria. They have permanent external gills
as well as lungs. The eyes are small and the legs are
weak.
(b) A changeable protozoan; an am[oe]ba.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
Proteus
n 1: (Greek mythology) a prophetic god who served Poseidon; was
capable of changing his shape at will [syn: {Proteus}]
2: type genus of the Proteidae [syn: {Proteus}, {genus Proteus}]
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