The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Protest \Pro*test"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Protested; p. pr. &
vb. n. Protesting.] [F. protester, L. protestari, pro
before + testari to be a witness, testis a witness. See
Testify.]
1. To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness;
to declare solemnly; to avow.
[1913 Webster]
He protest that his measures are pacific. --Landor.
[1913 Webster]
The lady doth protest too much, methinks. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To make a solemn declaration (often a written one)
expressive of opposition; -- with against; as, he protest
against your votes. --Denham.
[1913 Webster]
The conscience has power . . . to protest againts
the exorbitancies of the passions. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: To affirm; asseverate; assert; aver; attest; testify;
declare; profess. See Affirm.
[1913 Webster]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
33 Moby Thesaurus words for "protesting":
complaining, disputatious, disputing, dissentient, dissenting,
expostulative, expostulatory, fractious, noncooperative, objecting,
obstructive, on the barricades, proof against, protestant,
rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, reluctant, remonstrant,
remonstrative, renitent, repellent, resistant, resisting,
resistive, retardant, retardative, uncooperative, under protest,
unsubmissive, unyielding, up in arms, withstanding