paralysis

[ puh-ral-uh-sis ]

noun

, plural pa·ral·y·ses [p, uh, -, ral, -, uh, -seez].

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.

paralysis

/ pəˈrælɪsɪs /

noun

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 activity

   paralysis of industry by strikes

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.

paralysis

1. The loss of voluntary movement in a body part. Paralysis results from damage to the nerves that supply the affected part of the body.

Other Words From

• nonpa·raly·sis noun plural nonparalyses
• semi·pa·raly·sis noun plural semiparalyses

Word History and Origins

Origin of paralysis¹

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; palsy ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of paralysis¹

C16: via Latin from Greek paralusis; see para- ¹, -lysis

Example Sentences

Other labs are testing implanted electrodes in people with paralysis.

From Science News

At home, only by acting on that conviction can we avoid paralysis.

From Time

After decades of work and mass vaccination campaigns that have spared millions of children from paralysis, the world is close to wiping out polio.

From Science News

Its long-term effect on our lives is still unclear, but that uncertainty must not induce paralysis.

From Fortune

The company settled into a kind of paralysis, unable to either deliver on or dial back its ambitions.

From Fortune

Obama has long argued that Republican obstructionism is to blame for the current paralysis in government.

From The Daily Beast

The shooting left Brady with slurred speech, and with partial paralysis, which required him to use a wheelchair.

From The Daily Beast

A feeling of helplessness and its resulting paralysis are the enemy of the Good.

From The Daily Beast

Yet not everyone is caught up this vortex of paralysis and resentment.

From The Daily Beast

Lou continued to hope that his creeping paralysis could be halted.

From The Daily Beast

Suffering from paralysis for years previous, his mental energy, as a chronic invalid, was amazing.

From Project Gutenberg

These symptoms may be present in a variety of degrees, and in advanced cases even imbecility or paralysis may ensue.

From Project Gutenberg

Paralysis has unnerved and unstrung the whole system and yet the mind has remained uninjured.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course, if it's repeated enough, it will end up as a permanent paralysis of the part stimulated.

From Project Gutenberg

Overhead a bird chirped in loneliness, and the sky slowly turned pearly hued as the paralysis left him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apathy
• laziness
• passivity
• sluggishness