narcolepsy

American  

[nahr-kuh-lep-see] / ˈnɑr kəˌlɛp si /

noun

Pathology.

1. a condition characterized by frequent and uncontrollable periods of deep sleep.

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narcolepsy British  

/ ˈnɑːkəˌlɛpsɪ /

noun

1. pathol a rare condition characterized by sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• narcoleptic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of narcolepsy

First recorded in 1875–80; narco- + (epi)lepsy

Explanation

If it seems like your dad is always dozing on the couch, he may be lazy or he may suffer from narcolepsy — a disorder that makes people fall asleep, sometimes suddenly. Someone who's diagnosed with narcolepsy may abruptly fall asleep at any moment, although there are milder cases of narcolepsy with symptoms including excessive fatigue during the day and the need for frequent naps. A person with narcolepsy is called a narcoleptic. The French term narcolepsie was coined in 1880 by a French doctor who took the Greek word narke, "numbness," and combined it with lepsis, "attack or seizure."