catalepsy

or cat·a·lep·sis

[ kat-l-ep-see ]

/ ˈkæt lˌɛp si /

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See synonyms for catalepsy on Thesaurus.com

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

There are such, put in the spiritualist; for instance—crabs; they are very nervous, and are easily thrown into a cataleptic state.
Smoke|Turgenev Ivan Sergeevich
A cataleptic dream would explain it all; and I was determined that a dream it should be.
J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 1|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
And all of this the senseless seaman heard—for—he was in a cataleptic fit, where he could hear, but could not move.
Famous Privateersmen and Adventurers of the Sea|Charles H. L. Johnston
He tried to stir and found that it couldn't be done; every muscle seemed tied in a cataleptic state.
The Brain|Alexander Blade

The figure sits and leans forward in the chair, straining and rigid, cataleptic with horror.
The Last of the Legions and Other Tales of Long Ago|Arthur Conan Doyle

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

catalepsy

or cat·a·lep·sis

Origin of catalepsy

OTHER WORDS FROM catalepsy

Words related to catalepsy

How to use catalepsy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for catalepsy

Derived forms of catalepsy

Word Origin for catalepsy