catalepsy
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of catalepsy
1350–1400; < Medieval Latin catalēpsia, variant of Late Latin catalēpsis < Greek katálēpsis seizure (akin to katalambánein to hold down), equivalent to kata- cata- + lêpsis a grasping ( lēp-, variant stem of lambánein to grasp + -sis -sis ); replacing Middle English cathalempsia < Medieval Latin
Compare meaning
How does catalepsy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Catalepsy is a rare disorder that causes a person's body to become rigid and temporarily unable to move. Causes of catalepsy may include Parkinson's disease or certain psychiatric disorders. The Greek root of catalepsy is katalepsis, "seizing or grasping," and when someone is in this state, they do seem to be seized by some invisible force: Their limbs become fixed in place, and the person enters a trancelike state. While often associated with nervous system disorders, catalepsy can also be a side effect of certain medications.
Vocabulary lists containing catalepsy
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Psychological Conditions and Disorders
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Psychology
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We think now he probably suffered from catalepsy, a nervous condition that causes muscular rigidity.
From The Guardian • Oct. 17, 2010
Eleanor Roosevelt's frilly white collar turned to sponge; her smile froze into catalepsy.
From Time Magazine Archive
Whelan scrapped the result, not for lack of merit, but because he decided it could only evoke ten show-stopping minutes of caterwauling and catalepsy.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Sometimes our people get happy and skip around a bit," she said, "but . . . we don't have any catalepsy or epilepsy."
From Time Magazine Archive
The doctor recognized catalepsy at the first visit.
From Final Proof or the Value of Evidence by Ottolengui, R.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
