Prŏth'e-sĭs, n.

n. [Lat., Gr. πρόθεσις, from προτιθέναι, to place or set before, from πρό, before, and τιθέναι, to place, set, put; Fr. prothèse.] 1. (Eccl.) The place in a church on which the elements for the eucharist are put, previous to their being placed on the altar;—called also credence. 2. (Surg.) The process of adding to the human body some artificial part in place of one that may be wanting, as a wooden leg, &c.; prosthesis.