paralysis
Americannoun
plural
paralyses-
Pathology.
-
a loss or impairment of voluntary movement in a body part, caused by injury or disease of the nerves, brain, or spinal cord.
-
a disease characterized by this, especially palsy.
-
-
a state of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act.
The strike caused a paralysis of all shipping.
noun
-
pathol
-
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
-
a disease characterized by such impairment or loss; palsy
-
-
cessation or impairment of activity
paralysis of industry by strikes
Other Word Forms
- nonparalysis noun
- semiparalysis noun
Etymology
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; palsy 1
Compare meaning
How does paralysis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet what sounds like endless opportunity can easily become analysis paralysis.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rare degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles.
From BBC
First introduced in 2021, the dancing molecules therapy uses controlled molecular motion to repair tissue and potentially reverse paralysis after traumatic spinal cord injury.
From Science Daily
Epibatidine, found in the Ecuadoran dart frog, causes muscle paralysis and eventual asphyxiation.
From Barron's
Officials said the symptoms he reportedly experienced—paralysis, acute pain and respiratory failure—are consistent with epibatidine poisoning.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
