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prosthesis

an artificial device replacing a missing or damaged body part

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Where does the word "prosthesis" come from? It comes from Greek prosthesis, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).

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Where does the word "prosthesis" come from? It comes from Greek prosthesis, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).

Prosthesis’s story begins in Greek: prosthesis meant “an addition.” Literally an addition, from pros- (in addition to) and tithenai (to place). It reached English by 1550s as prosthesis. Settled as the medical word for an artificial replacement body part. Today, prosthesis means an artificial device replacing a missing or damaged body part.

  1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient prosthesis "an addition", literally an addition, from pros- (in addition to) and tithenai (to place).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1550s prosthesis "an artificial replacement for a missing body part", settled as the medical word for an artificial replacement body part.

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