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. 2023

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