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