Paralysis Definition

pə-rălĭ-sĭs
paralyses
noun
paralyses
Partial or complete loss, or temporary interruption, of a function, esp. of voluntary motion or of sensation in some part or all of the body.
Webster's New World
Loss of sensation over a region of the body.
American Heritage Medicine
Any condition of helpless inactivity or of inability to act.
Webster's New World
Inability to move or function; total stoppage or severe impairment of activity.
Fear that led to national paralysis.
American Heritage
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Paralysis

Noun

Singular:
paralysis
Plural:
paralyses

Origin of Paralysis

  • From Latin paralysis, from Ancient Greek παράλυσις (paralusis, “palsy"), from παραλύειν (paraluein, “to disable on one side"), from παρά (para, “beside") + λύειν (luein, “loosen").

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin from Greek paralusis from paralūein to disable, loosen para- on one side para–1 lūein to release leu- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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