cataleptic

Variant of catalepsy

catalepsy definition

cata·lepsy (kat′ə lep′sē)

noun

a condition in which consciousness and feeling seem to be temporarily lost, and the muscles become rigid: it may occur in epilepsy, schizophrenia, etc.

Etymology: LL catalepsis < Gr katalēpsis, a seizing, grasping < katalambanein < kata-, down + lambanein, to take, seize: for IE base see latch

Related Forms:

  • cataleptic cat′a·lep′·tic (-tik) adjective, noun

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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