Noah Webster
Protract
PROTRACT', verb transitive [Latin protractus, from pro and traho, to draw.]
1. To draw out or lengthen in time; to continue; to prolong; as, to protract an argument; to protract a discussion; to protract a war or a negotiation.
2. To delay; to defer; to put off to a distant time; as, to protract the decision of a question; to protract the final issue.
PROTRACT', noun Tedious continuance. [Not used.]