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prothesis

[proth-uh-sis]
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noun, plural proth·e·ses [proth-uh-seez] /ˈprɒθ əˌsiz/
  1. the addition of a sound or syllable at the beginning of a word, as in Spanish escala “ladder” from Latin scala.
  2. Eastern Church.
    1. Also called proskomide.the preparation and preliminary oblation of the Eucharistic elements.
    2. the table on which this is done.
    3. the part of the sanctuary or bema where this table stands.
  3. (often initial capital letter) Greek Antiquity. a representation of a dead person lying in state.
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Origin of prothesis

1665–75; < Late Latin < Greek próthesis a putting before. See pro-2, thesis
Related formspro·thet·ic [pruh-thet-ik] /prəˈθɛt ɪk/, adjectivepro·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for prothesis

Historical Examples

  • Prothesis would most likely have been put for it by a Greek.

    An Outline of English Speech-craft

    William Barnes

  • The two smaller compartments and apses at the sides of the bema were sacristies, the diaconicon and prothesis.

  • It is covered either with a barrel or with a cross-groined vault, and communicates with the prothesis and the diaconicon.

  • The place of the prothesis has been taken by a similar door and a small Turkish dome.

  • The prothesis and diaconicon have barrel vaults and apses with three sides projecting slightly on the exterior.

British Dictionary definitions for prothesis

prothesis

noun
  1. a process in the development of a language by which a phoneme or syllable is prefixed to a word to facilitate pronunciationLatin ``scala'' gives Spanish ``escala'' by prothesis
  2. Eastern Orthodox Church the solemn preparation of the Eucharistic elements before consecration
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Derived Formsprothetic (prəˈθɛtɪk), adjectiveprothetically, adverb

Word Origin

C16: via Late Latin from Greek: a setting out in public, from pro- forth + thesis a placing
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for prothesis

n.

from Greek prothesis "a placing before, a placing in public," from pro (see pro-) + thesis (see thesis). In ecclesiastical sense from 1670s; grammatical from 1870. Related: Prothetic (1835 in grammar); prothetical; prothetically.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper