alexia

[ uh-lek-see-uh ]

/ əˈlɛk si ə /

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noun Pathology.

a neurologic disorder marked by loss of the ability to understand written or printed language, usually resulting from a brain lesion or a congenital defect.

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Also called word blindness.

Origin of alexia

1875–80; a-⁶ + Greek léx(is) speech (leg- stem of légein to speak + -sis-sis) + -ia; altered meaning by association of -lex- with lexicon, etc.

Words nearby alexia

Alexandrina, Alexandrine, Alexandrinus, alexandrite, Alexandroupolis, alexia, Alexian, Alexiares, Alexicacus, alexin, alexipharmic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use alexia in a sentence

As a mother to three daughters, Catharina-Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane, Máxima has passed her style down to the next generation.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands Is a New Style Icon|Erin Cunningham|May 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“What was discovered in Daraya is horrible,” says a Damascus activist who goes by the name Alexia Jade.
Syrian Uprising Body Count Spikes as Assad Forces Massacre Civilians|Mike Giglio|August 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Alexia's fingers fell away, and he held up a dangling end of lace, all frayed and ragged.
Ben Pepper|Margaret Sidney
But Van, much preferring Alexia to Pickering, couldn't say the same, so the carriage rolled on to a gloomy silence within.
Ben Pepper|Margaret Sidney

She was soon ready, and before long there they were, Aunty Whitney and she, driving off to bring Alexia home and comfort her up.
Ben Pepper|Margaret Sidney
"Alexia isn't home," said Polly, disconsolately, and feeling as if the whole world were out of joint.
Ben Pepper|Margaret Sidney
And so, although Polly did not forget about Alexia, it was some time before she could get Mrs. Whitney's ear to tell her about it.
Ben Pepper|Margaret Sidney

British Dictionary definitions for alexia

alexia

/ (əˈlɛksɪə) /

noun

a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by impaired ability to readNontechnical name: word blindness Compare aphasia

Word Origin for alexia

C19: from New Latin, from a- 1 + Greek lexis speech; influenced in meaning by Latin legere to read

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for alexia

alexia

[ ə-lĕk′sē-ə ]

Loss of the ability to comprehend the meaning of written or printed words and sentences, usually caused by brain lesions.text blindness visual aphasia word blindness

Other words from alexia

a•lex′ic adj.