paralysis

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noun pa·ral·y·sis \pÉ™-ˈra-lÉ™-sÉ™s\

medical : a condition in which you are unable to move or feel all or part of your body

: a state of being unable to function, act, or move

plural pa·ral·y·ses\-ËŒsÄ“z\

Full Definition of PARALYSIS

1

:  complete or partial loss of function especially when involving the motion or sensation in a part of the body

2

:  loss of the ability to move

3

:  a state of powerlessness or incapacity to act

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Examples of PARALYSIS

1. The disease causes a paralysis of the legs.
2. The whole country is in a state of paralysis.
3. They are trying to end the political paralysis that has been gripping the country.

Origin of PARALYSIS

Latin, from Greek, from paralyein to loosen, disable, from para- + lyein to loosen — more at lose

First Known Use: 1525

Related to PARALYSIS

Synonyms

palsy

Related Words

cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, poliomyelitis; debilitation, debility, decrepitude, enfeeblement, feebleness, frailness, frailty, weakness; infirmity, lameness; disability, impairment; diplegia, hemiplegia, paraplegia, paresis, quadriplegia, spastic paralysis

Near Antonyms

mobility, motility, sensation

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with PARALYSIS

analysis, catalysis, dialysis

paralysis

noun pa·ral·y·sis \pÉ™-ˈral-É™-sÉ™s\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural pa·ral·y·ses \-ËŒsÄ“z\

Medical Definition of PARALYSIS

:  complete or partial loss of function especially when involving the power of motion or of sensation in any part of the body—see hemiplegia, paraplegia, paresis 1