prothesis

[ proth-uh-sis ]

/ ˈprɒθ ə sɪs /

noun, plural proth·e·ses [proth-uh-seez] /ˈprɒθ əˌsiz/

the addition of a sound or syllable at the beginning of a word, as in Spanish escala “ladder” from Latin scala.

Eastern Church.

Also called proskomide. the preparation and preliminary oblation of the Eucharistic elements.
the table on which this is done.
the part of the sanctuary or bema where this table stands.

(often initial capital letter) Greek Antiquity. a representation of a dead person lying in state.

Nearby words

prothalamion, prothalamium, prothalline, prothallium, prothallus, prothesis, prothetic, prothonotary, prothonotary apostolic, prothonotary warbler, prothoracic gland

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for prothesis

At the east end a door, unsymmetrically placed, leads to the small chapel which was originally the prothesis.
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople|Alexander Van Millingen
The prothesis and the diaconicon are represented by chapels to north and south of the apse.
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople|Alexander Van Millingen
The two smaller compartments and apses at the sides of the bema were sacristies, the diaconicon and prothesis.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4|Various
The position of the prothesis and diaconicon in particular is identical in the two churches.
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople|Alexander Van Millingen

It is covered either with a barrel or with a cross-groined vault, and communicates with the prothesis and the diaconicon.
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople|Alexander Van Millingen

British Dictionary definitions for prothesis

prothesis

/ (ˈprɒθɪsɪs) /

noun

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

Eastern Orthodox Church the solemn preparation of the Eucharistic elements before consecration

Derived Formsprothetic (prəˈθɛtɪk), adjectiveprothetically, adverb

Word Origin for prothesis

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

prothesis

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.