paresis

[ puh-ree-sis, par-uh-sis ]

nounPathology.
  1. partial motor paralysis.

  2. a late manifestation of syphilis, characterized by progressive dementia and paralysis.

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Origin of paresis

1
1685–95; <New Latin <Greek páresis paralysis, a letting go, equivalent to pare- (variant stem of pariénai to let go) + -sis-sis

Other words from paresis

  • pa·ret·ic [puh-ret-ik, -ree-tik], /pəˈrɛt ɪk, -ˈri tɪk/, noun, adjective
  • pa·ret·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby paresis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use paresis in a sentence

  • If there is neuritis from the virus it becomes intense and causes muscular contractions, paresis, and paralysis.

  • paresis is what is sometimes called softening of the brain, and it attacks by preference men under thirty-five.

  • Hence it is that paresis and locomotor ataxia are comparatively quite common among actors, brokers, and financiers.

  • Indeed this affection and paresis are sometimes spoken of as parasyphilitic affections.

  • The sudden cure of advanced paresis would be as much a miracle as the sudden replacing of a lost femur.

British Dictionary definitions for paresis

paresis

/ (pəˈriːsɪs, ˈpærɪsɪs) /


nounplural -ses (-ˌsiːz) pathol
  1. incomplete or slight paralysis of motor functions

  2. short for general paresis: See general paralysis of the insane

Origin of paresis

1
C17: via New Latin from Greek: a relaxation, from parienai to let go, from para- 1 + hienai to release

Derived forms of paresis

  • paretic (pəˈrɛtɪk), adjective

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