prō-tegō tēxī, tēctus, ere, to cover before, hide in front, cover over, cover, protect, shelter: tabernacula protecta hederā, Cs.: aedes, furnish with a projecting roof: hunc scutis protegunt hostes, protect, Cs.: scutis protecti corpora longis, V.: protegendi corporis memor, L.

—Fig., to cover, shield, defend, protect: me civem: mansit ad protegendum regem, L.: causam, Iu.