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paralysis

puh-RAL-uh-sis · noun

Ancient GreekLatinEnglish

Origin

Borrowed from Latin paralysis, itself from Ancient Greek παράλυσις (parálusis, "palsy"), from παραλύω (paralúō, "to disable on one side"). Its pieces break down as para- + -lysis.

Journey

The word passed from Greek into Latin and then into English largely unchanged in form, carrying its core meaning of bodily disabling along with it.

Related words

It's a doublet of palsy — the two words descend from the same Greek root but reached English by different paths, one staying close to its Latin form, the other worn down through everyday use.

More words

From Ancient Greek

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