epileptic

[ep-uh-lep-tik]Pathology

adjective

pertaining to or symptomatic of epilepsy.

noun

a person affected by epilepsy.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for epileptic

Contemporary Examples of epileptic

One man was having an epileptic seizure; one had a nosebleed; one had full-blown African Malaria; one had the flu.
Europe’s Hidden Ebola Cases
Barbie Latza Nadeau
October 15, 2014
After starting a new drug, an epileptic woman started writing 10 to 15 poems each day.
The Seizure Medication That Turns You Into a Poet
Cat Ferguson
September 12, 2014
She then suffered an epileptic seizure and was treated with an appropriate medication.
Infected Ebola Doctor Kent Brantly Is an Endangered Hero
Michael Daly
August 3, 2014
The 21-year-old, who studied at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor, Michigan, had suffered an epileptic seizure.
JP Morgan Executive Falls to his Death from JP Morgan Building, in What May Have Been Suicide
Nico Hines
January 28, 2014
Like a crazy, drunk uncle shooting an epileptic dog because he has fleas, the current GOP shuns him for all the wrong reasons.
George W. Bush: Barack Obama’s Best Friend in the 2012 Election
Michael Tomasky
April 3, 2012

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 Necessity of Atheism
Dr. D.M. Brooks
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.

epileptic in Medicine

epileptic

[ĕp′ə-lĕp′tĭk]

One who has epilepsy.

adj.

Affected with epilepsy.
Of, relating to, or associated with epilepsy.