'Protagonist' is Greek for 'first actor' — the one who stepped out of the chorus. Kin to 'agony.'
The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, film, novel, or other fictional text; the chief advocate of a cause.
From Greek 'prōtagōnistēs' (πρωταγωνιστής, the first actor, the lead performer), from 'prōtos' (πρῶτος, first) + 'agōnistēs' (ἀγωνιστής, a combatant, a contestant, an actor), from 'agōn' (ἀγών, a contest, a struggle, a trial), from 'agein' (ἄγειν, to lead, to drive), from PIE *h₂eǵ- (to drive, to lead). In ancient Greek theater, the 'prōtagōnistēs' was literally the first actor — Thespis (6th century BCE) is said to have been the first person to step out of the chorus to speak as an individual character. Key roots: πρῶτος (prōtos) (Greek: "