prosthesis
UK: /prɒsˈθiːsɪs/ | US: /prɑːsˈθiːsɪs/
n. an artificial device used to replace a missing body part, such as a limb, tooth, or eye
n. (linguistics) the addition of a letter or syllable at the beginning of a word (e.g., "especial" from "special")
prosthesis = pro<before> + thesis<placement>
- pro (Greek pro, meaning "before" or "in front of")
- thesis (Greek thesis, meaning "placement" or "setting")
Etymology Origin:
The word prosthesis originates from Greek prosthesis, combining pro- ("before") and thesis ("placement"). Initially, it referred to the grammatical addition of a letter or syllable at the start of a word. By the 16th century, its meaning expanded in medical contexts to denote the "placement" of an artificial body part to compensate for loss. The logic reflects both linguistic and physical "addition to the front."
Modern prostheses are designed to mimic natural limb movements.
The linguist explained how prosthesis alters word pronunciation.
After the accident, he received a prosthetic leg.
In Ancient Greek, prosthesis was a common rhetorical device.
Advances in materials have revolutionized prosthetic technology.