prothesis: Meaning and Definition of

proth•e•sis

Pronunciation: (proth'u-sis), [key]
— pl. -ses
  1. the addition of a sound or syllable at the beginning of a word, as in Spanish escala “ladder” from Latin scala.
    1. Also calledproskomide.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.
  2. (often cap.)a representation of a dead person lying in state.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.