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paralysis

[puh-ral-uh-sis]
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noun, plural pa·ral·y·ses [puh-ral-uh-seez] /pəˈræl əˌsiz/.
  1. Pathology.
    1. a loss or impairment of voluntary movement in a body part, caused by injury or disease of the nerves, brain, or spinal cord.
    2. a disease characterized by this, especially palsy.
  2. a state of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act: The strike caused a paralysis of all shipping.
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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
Related formsnon·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.

paralyze

[par-uh-lahyz]
verb (used with object), par·a·lyzed, par·a·lyz·ing.
  1. to affect with paralysis.
  2. to bring to a condition of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act: The strike paralyzed communications.
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Also especially British, par·a·lyse.

Origin of paralyze

1795–1805; back formation from paralysis, modeled on analyze
Related formspar·a·ly·zant, adjective, nounpar·a·ly·za·tion, nounpar·a·lyz·er, nounpar·a·lyz·ing·ly, adverbsem·i·par·a·lyzed, adjectiveun·par·a·lyzed, adjective

Synonyms

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2. See shock1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for paralyses

Historical Examples

  • He was corroded by suspicion, and this paralyses able servants.

    Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 1 of 3)

    John Morley

  • We can only get up provisions from day to day—which paralyses our operations.

  • In this country the expected always happens, which paralyses the brain.

    The Belovd Vagabond

    William J. Locke

  • There are paralyses that affect the sight; others that affect the mind.

  • She shudders when she even thinks of him, and the sight of him is a horror that paralyses her.

British Dictionary definitions for paralyses

paralysis

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz)
  1. pathol
    1. 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
    2. a disease characterized by such impairment or loss; palsy
  2. cessation or impairment of activityparalysis of industry by strikes
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Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for paralyses

paralyze

v.

1804, from French paralyser (16c.), from Old French paralisie "paralysis," from Latin paralysis (see paralysis). Figurative use from 1805. Related: Paralyzed; paralyzing.

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paralysis

n.

1520s, from Latin paralysis, from Greek paralysis "paralysis, palsy," literally "loosening," from paralyein "disable, enfeeble," from para- "beside" (see para- (1)) + lyein "loosen, untie" (see lose).

Figurative use from 1813. Earlier form was paralysie (late 14c., see palsy). Old English equivalent was lyft adl (see left (adj.)) or crypelnes "crippleness."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
paralyses in Medicine

paralysis

(pə-răl′ĭ-sĭs)
n. pl. pa•ral•y•ses (-sēz′)
  1. Loss of power of voluntary movement in a muscle through injury or through disease of its nerve supply.
  2. Loss of sensation over a region of the body.
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paralyze

(păr′ə-līz′)
v.
  1. To affect with paralysis; cause to be paralytic.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
paralyses in Science

paralysis

[pə-răl′ĭ-sĭs]
  1. Loss or impairment of voluntary movement or sensation in a part of the body, usually as a result of neurologic injury or disease.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
paralyses in Culture

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.

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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.