Paralyse Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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paralyse
[ˈpærəlaɪz ]
Definition
medical condition
To paralyze is to cause an individual to lose the ability to move one or more parts of their body. This can occur due to various reasons, including nerve damage, injury, or disease affecting the nervous system. Paralysis can be partial, where some movement remains, or complete, where there is no movement at all. In medical contexts, it is often associated with strokes, spinal cord injuries, or conditions like multiple sclerosis.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.
- A stroke can paralyze different parts of the body.
- Doctors are working on methods to reverse paralysis.
- Certain diseases can paralyze the muscles used for breathing.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Medicine
- Paralysis can be caused by various medical conditions, including stroke, nerve injury, or diseases like multiple sclerosis.
- Temporary paralysis may occur due to extreme stress or trauma, such as 'sleep paralysis' during REM sleep.
- Scientific studies explore mechanisms behind paralysis, aiming at developing treatments to restore movement.
Pop Culture
- In horror films, characters often experience paralysis in frightening scenes, emphasizing vulnerability.
- The concept of paralysis is used metaphorically in literature to signify indecision or emotional blockage.
- Famous songs and poems sometimes reference paralysis to express feelings of being trapped or lost.
Psychology
- The term 'analysis paralysis' describes a situation where overthinking prevents timely decision-making.
- Fear can create a psychological paralysis, causing individuals to freeze in challenging scenarios.
- Research in psychology investigates how trauma can lead to physical and mental paralysis manifestations.
Origin of 'paralyse'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'paralyse' comes from the Greek 'paralyein', meaning to loosen or disable.
- It entered the English language in the late 18th century as a medical term for loss of movement.
- The variant 'paralyze' is commonly used in American English, while 'paralyse' is used in British English.
The word 'paralyze' originates from the late 19th century and comes from the French term 'paralyser', which in turn is derived from 'paralysie', meaning paralysis. The root of these terms can be traced back to the Greek word 'paralyein', which means 'to disable' or 'to loosen.' This Greek root is composed of 'para-', meaning 'beside' or 'beyond,' and 'lyein', which means 'to loosen' or 'to release.' The term began to appear in English texts as medical science started to understand and describe the effects of neurological injuries and conditions. It was particularly emphasized in the context of describing the inability to move parts of the body due to damage to the nervous system.