-lepsy

American  

1. a combining form meaning “seizure,” used in the formation of compound words.

   epilepsy.

---

-lepsy British  

combining form

1. indicating a seizure or attack

   catalepsy

---

Usage

What does -lepsy mean? The combining form -lepsy is used like a suffix meaning “seizure.” It is sometimes used in medical terms. The form -lepsy is based on the Greek lêpsis, meaning “seizure, grasping” and formed from the verb lambánein, “to seize.” This verb also helped form the Greek word epilēpsía, ultimate source of the English epilepsy.

Other Word Forms

• -leptic
  combining form

Etymology

Origin of -lepsy

Combining form representing New Latin -lēpsia < Greek -lēpsia, equivalent to lêps ( is ) a seizure ( lēp- variant stem of lambánein to seize + -sis -sis ) + -ia -y ³