catalepsy

or cat·a·lep·sis

[ kat-l-ep-see ]
See synonyms for catalepsy on Thesaurus.com
nounPathology, Psychiatry.
  1. a physical condition usually associated with catatonic schizophrenia, characterized by suspension of sensation, muscular rigidity, fixity of posture, and often by loss of contact with environment.

Origin of catalepsy

1
1350–1400; <Medieval Latin catalēpsia, variant of Late Latin catalēpsis<Greek katálēpsis seizure (akin to katalambánein to hold down), equivalent to kata-cata- + lêpsis a grasping (lēp-, variant stem of lambánein to grasp + -sis-sis); replacing Middle English cathalempsia<Medieval Latin

Other words from catalepsy

  • cat·a·lep·tic, adjective, noun
  • cat·a·lep·ti·cal·ly, adverb

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British Dictionary definitions for catalepsy

catalepsy

/ (ˈkætəˌlɛpsɪ) /


noun
  1. a state of prolonged rigid posture, occurring for example in schizophrenia or in hypnotic trances

Origin of catalepsy

1
C16: from Medieval Latin catalēpsia, variant of Late Latin catalēpsis, from Greek katalēpsis, literally: a seizing, from katalambanein to hold down, from kata- down + lambanein to grasp

Derived forms of catalepsy

  • cataleptic, adjective

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