Dictionary.com
definitions

epileptic

[ep-uh-lep-tik]Pathology
|

adjective

pertaining to or symptomatic of epilepsy.

noun

a person affected by epilepsy.

RELATED CONTENT

Lyrica
Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

Origin of epileptic

1600–10; < Late Latin epilēpticus < Greek epilēptikós, equivalent to epílēpt(os) (see epilepsy) + -ikos -ic
Related formsep·i·lep·ti·cal·ly, adverban·ti·ep·i·lep·tic, adjective, nounnon·ep·i·lep·tic, adjective, nounpost·ep·i·lep·tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for epileptic

Contemporary Examples of epileptic

Historical Examples of epileptic

  • After epileptic seizures and attacks of hysteria the writing is shaky.

    Criminal Man

    Gina Lombroso-Ferrero

  • A burly, bull-necked fellow in the car was attacked with an epileptic fit.

    Memoirs

    Charles Godfrey Leland

  • To simply assert that he was an epileptic does not explain these symptoms.

  • The phenomenon is not uncommon, especially with epileptic patients.

    Real Ghost Stories

    William T. Stead

  • He had seen no signs which suggested, to his mind, that prisoner was an epileptic.

    The Shrieking Pit

    Arthur J. Rees

British Dictionary definitions for epileptic

epileptic

adjective

of, relating to, or having epilepsy

noun

a person who has epilepsy
Derived Formsepileptically, adverb

usage

Rather than talking about an epileptic or epileptics, it is better to talk about a person with epilepsy and people with epilepsy
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
Word Origin and History for epileptic
adj.

c.1600, from French épileptique, from Late Latin epilepticus, from Greek epileptikos, from epilambanein (see epilepsy). Earlier adjective was epilentic (late 14c.), from a Greek variant. As a noun from 1650s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for epileptic

epileptic

[ĕp′ə-lĕp′tĭk]

n.

One who has epilepsy.

adj.

Affected with epilepsy.
Of, relating to, or associated with epilepsy.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.