-plegia

American  

1. a combining form meaning “paralysis, cessation of motion,” in the limbs or region of the body specified by the initial element.

   cardioplegia; hemiplegia; quadriplegia.

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-plegia British  

combining form

1. indicating a specified type of paralysis

   paraplegia

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Usage

What does -plegia mean? The combining form -plegia is used like a suffix meaning “paralysis, cessation (stopping) of motion.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology. The form -plegia comes from Greek plēgḗ, meaning “blow” or “stroke.”What are variants of -plegia?When combined with words or word elements to denote the adjective form of the word, -plegia becomes -plegic, as in paraplegic.

Other Word Forms

• -plegic
  combining form

Etymology

Origin of -plegia

< Greek -plēgia, combining form representing plēgḗ blow, stroke; see -ia