prosthesis

[pros-thee-sis, pros-thuh-sis]

noun

plural

prostheses 

1. a device, either external or implanted, that substitutes for or supplements a missing or defective part of the body.

2. Grammar, Prosody.,  the addition of one or more sounds or syllables to a word or line of verse, especially at the beginning.

prosthesis

/ ˈprɒsθɪsɪs, prɒsˈθiːsɪs, prɒsˈθɛtɪk /

noun

1. surgery

   1. the replacement of a missing bodily part with an artificial substitute

   2. an artificial part such as a limb, eye, or tooth

2. linguistics another word for prothesis

prosthesis

plural

prostheses 

1. An artificial device used to replace a missing or defective body part, such as a limb or a heart valve.

Other Word Forms

• prosthetic adjective
• prosthetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosthesis¹

1545–55; < Late Latin < Greek prósthesis a putting to, addition, equivalent to prós to + thésis a placing; thesis

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosthesis¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: an addition, from prostithenai to add, from pros- towards + tithenai to place

Example Sentences

She also has a white prosthesis in the place of one leg.

From Salon

Mr Richards can also have a 3D scan to capture his face digitally to develop replicas of him and then design the moulds for these prosthesis.

From BBC

She described it as a "very unique case" because of the number of prostheses that had to be made without being able to copy any of the patient's fingers.

From BBC

Vázquez continued to have problems with his right eye, which required seven surgeries and was eventually removed in 2016 and replaced with a prosthesis.

From Los Angeles Times

However, he is unable to compete at the Olympics because it was ruled that jumping off his prosthesis gives him an advantage over non-amputees.

From BBC