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paresis

[puh-ree-sis, par-uh-sis]
noun Pathology.
  1. partial motor paralysis.
  2. a late manifestation of syphilis, characterized by progressive dementia and paralysis.
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Origin of paresis

1685–95; < New Latin < Greek páresis paralysis, a letting go, equivalent to pare- (variant stem of pariénai to let go) + -sis -sis
Related formspa·ret·ic [puh-ret-ik, -ree-tik] /pəˈrɛt ɪk, -ˈri tɪk/, noun, adjectivepa·ret·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for paresis

Historical Examples

  • Savages have paresis, apoplexy, and imbecility, seldom or never insanity.

    Religion and Lust

    James Weir

  • My diagnosis was paresis of the muscularis of the intestine.

    The Electric Bath

    George M. Schweig

  • They may also die of spinal consumption or paresis between the ages of 10 and 20.

    Sex

    Henry Stanton

  • If so, he promptly decided to have an acute attack of paresis.

    The Opened Shutters

    Clara Louise Burnham

  • It is worthy of note that the appearance of paresis preceded the convulsions.

British Dictionary definitions for paresis

paresis

noun plural -ses (-ˌsiːz) pathol
  1. incomplete or slight paralysis of motor functions
  2. short for general paresisSee general paralysis of the insane
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Derived Formsparetic (pəˈrɛtɪk), adjective

Word Origin

C17: via New Latin from Greek: a relaxation, from parienai to let go, from para- 1 + hienai to release
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 paresis

n.

"partial paralysis," 1690s, Modern Latin, from Greek paresis "letting go, slackening of strength, paralysis," from stem of parienai "to let go," from para- (see para- (1)) + hienai "to send, throw" (see jet (v.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
paresis in Medicine

paresis

(pə-rē′sĭs, păr′ĭ-sĭs)
n. pl. pa•re•ses (-sēz)
  1. Slight or partial paralysis.
  2. General paresis.
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Related formspa•ret′ic (pə-rĕt′ĭk) adj. n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.