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:
- palsy
- loss of sensation
- insensibility
- loss of motion
Origin of Paralysis
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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
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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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