Prosthetic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌpɹɒsˈθɛtɪk/

Definitions

1. A man-made device created to substitute or aid a lost or impaired body part
2. An artificial tool designed to restore functionality or replace a missing limb or organ for individuals with physical disabilities
3. An artificial device used to replace or assist a missing body part, enabling improved mobility and function for those affected by impairment

Etymology: The Greek verb "prostithenai" meant "to add" or "to place besides," built from "pros" (toward) and "tithenai" (to place). From it came "prosthesis," an addition, and the adjective "prosthetikos," which described something that added to what was already there. Ancient Greek used the root for grammar and for the addition of extra letters or sounds to a word, not for artificial limbs. The medical sense came much later. Scholars in early modern Europe revived the Greek vocabulary to name new ideas, and "prosthetic" in the sense of an artificial replacement for a body part belongs to that modern coinage, drawn from New Latin "prostheticus." The adjective carries the original idea of addition: the device is something set onto the body to supply what is missing.

Synonyms: artificial, replacement, mechanical, synthetic, bionic

Antonyms: natural, organic, original, anatomical, genuine