paralysis
[ puh-ral-uh-sis ]
/ pəˈræl ə sɪs /
noun, plural pa·ral·y·ses [puh-ral-uh-seez] /pəˈræl əˌsiz/.
Pathology.
- a loss or impairment of voluntary movement in a body part, caused by injury or disease of the nerves, brain, or spinal cord.
- a disease characterized by this, especially palsy.
a state of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act: The strike caused a paralysis of all shipping.
Words nearby paralysis
Origin of paralysis
before 1150; < Latin < Greek parálysis, equivalent to paraly-, var stem of paralȳ́ein to loosen (i.e., disable) on one side (para- para-1 + lȳ́ein to loosen) + -sis -sis; replacing Middle English paralisi(e) < Old French < Latin, as above; replacing late Old English paralisin (accusative) < Latin, as above; cf. palsy1
OTHER WORDS FROM paralysis
non·pa·ral·y·sis, noun, plural non·pa·ral·y·ses.sem·i·pa·ral·y·sis, noun, plural sem·i·pa·ral·y·ses.Definition for paralyses (2 of 2)
paralyze
[ par-uh-lahyz ]
/ ˈpær əˌlaɪz /
verb (used with object), par·a·lyzed, par·a·lyz·ing.
to affect with paralysis.
to bring to a condition of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act: The strike paralyzed communications.
Also especially British, par·a·lyse.
Origin of paralyze
SYNONYMS FOR paralyze
2 See shock1.
OTHER WORDS FROM paralyze
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for paralyses
British Dictionary definitions for paralyses
paralysis
/ (pəˈrælɪsɪs) /
noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)
pathol
- impairment or loss of voluntary muscle function or of sensation (sensory paralysis) in a part or area of the body, usually caused by a lesion or disorder of the muscles or the nerves supplying them
- a disease characterized by such impairment or loss; palsy
cessation or impairment of activityparalysis of industry by strikes
Word Origin for paralysis
C16: via Latin from Greek paralusis; see para- 1, -lysis
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
Medicine definitions for paralyses (1 of 2)
paralysis
[ pə-răl′ĭ-sĭs ]
n. pl. pa•ral•y•ses (-sēz′)
Loss of power of voluntary movement in a muscle through injury or through disease of its nerve supply.
Loss of sensation over a region of the body.
Medicine definitions for paralyses (2 of 2)
paralyze
[ păr′ə-līz′ ]
v.
To affect with paralysis; cause to be paralytic.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for paralyses
paralysis
[ pə-răl′ĭ-sĭs ]
Loss or impairment of voluntary movement or sensation in a part of the body, usually as a result of neurologic injury or disease.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Culture definitions for paralyses
paralysis
[ (puh-ral-uh-sis) ]
The loss of voluntary movement in a body part. Paralysis results from damage to the nerves that supply the affected part of the body.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.