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paralysis

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pa⋅ral⋅y⋅sis

  [puh-ral-uh-sis]
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–noun, plural -ses  [-seez] .
1. Pathology.
a. a loss or impairment of voluntary movement in a body part, caused by injury or disease of the nerves, brain, or spinal cord.
b. a disease characterized by this, esp. palsy.
2. a state of helpless stoppage, inactivity, or inability to act: The strike caused a paralysis of all shipping.
Origin:
bef. 1150; < L < Gk parálysis, equiv. to paraly-, var s. of paralȳ́ein to loosen (i.e., disable) on one side (para- para- 1 + lȳ́ein to loosen) + -sis -sis; r. ME paralisi(e) < OF < L, as above; r. late OE paralisin (acc.) < L, as above; cf. palsy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pa·ral·y·sis   (pə-rāl'ĭ-sĭs)   
n.   pl. pa·ral·y·ses (-sēz')

    1. Loss or impairment of the ability to move a body part, usually as a result of damage to its nerve supply.

    2. Loss of sensation over a region of the body.

  2. Inability to move or function; total stoppage or severe impairment of activity: fear that led to national paralysis.


[Latin, from Greek paralusis, from paralūein, to disable, loosen : para-, on one side; see para-1 + lūein, to release; see leu- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

paralysis [(puh-ral-uh-sis)]

The loss of voluntary movement in a body part. Paralysis results from damage to the nerves that supply the affected part of the body.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

paralysis 
1525, from Gk. paralysis, lit. "loosening," from paralyein "disable, enfeeble," from para- "beside" + lyein "loosen, untie," cognate with L. luere "to loose, release, atone for, expiate," O.E. for-leosan "to lose, destroy," losian "to perish, be lost" (see lose). Earlier form was paralysie (c.1380, see palsy). O.E. equivalent was lyft adl (see left (adj.)). Paralyze is 1804, from Fr. paralyser (16c.), from O.Fr. paralisie "paralysis," from L. paralysis, from Gk. Paralytic (adj.) is first attested c.1300; the noun is from c.1380.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pa·ral·y·sis
Pronunciation: p&-'ral-&-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural pa·ral·y·ses /-"sEz/
: 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
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

paralysis pa·ral·y·sis (pə-rāl'ĭ-sĭs)
n. pl. pa·ral·y·ses (-sēz')

  1. Loss of power of voluntary movement in a muscle through injury or through disease of its nerve supply.

  2. Loss of sensation over a region of the body.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
paralysis   (pə-rāl'ĭ-sĭs)  Pronunciation Key 
Loss or impairment of voluntary movement or sensation in a part of the body, usually as a result of neurologic injury or disease.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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