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catalepsy

or cat·a·lep·sis

[ kat-l-ep-see ]
/ ˈkæt lˌɛp si /
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noun Pathology, Psychiatry.
a physical condition usually associated with catatonic schizophrenia, characterized by suspension of sensation, muscular rigidity, fixity of posture, and often by loss of contact with environment.
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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

OTHER WORDS FROM catalepsy

cat·a·lep·tic, adjective, nouncat·a·lep·ti·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use catalepsy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for catalepsy

catalepsy
/ (ˈkætəˌlɛpsɪ) /

noun
a state of prolonged rigid posture, occurring for example in schizophrenia or in hypnotic trances

Derived forms of catalepsy

cataleptic, adjective

Word Origin for catalepsy

C16: from Medieval Latin catalēpsia, variant of Late Latin catalēpsis, from Greek katalēpsis, literally: a seizing, from katalambanein to hold down, from kata- down + lambanein to grasp
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
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