Paralyzed: meaning, definitions and examples

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paralyzed

 

[ ˈpærəˌlaɪzd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

medical condition

Paralyzed refers to the loss of ability to move one or more body parts, typically due to injury or illness affecting the nervous system. It can occur in varying degrees, impacting either a specific region of the body or the entire body, resulting in a lack of voluntary muscle control.

Synonyms

disabled, immobilized, incapacitated

Examples of usage

  • She was paralyzed from the waist down after the accident.
  • He felt paralyzed by fear during the storm.
  • The disease left him paralyzed and dependent on others for care.

Translations

Translations of the word "paralyzed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 paralisado

🇮🇳 लकवाग्रस्त

🇩🇪 gelähmt

🇮🇩 paralisis

🇺🇦 паралізований

🇵🇱 sparaliżowany

🇯🇵 麻痺した

🇫🇷 paralysé

🇪🇸 paralizado

🇹🇷 felçli

🇰🇷 마비된

🇸🇦 مشلول

🇨🇿 paralyzovaný

🇸🇰 paralizovaný

🇨🇳 瘫痪的

🇸🇮 paraliziran

🇮🇸 lamandi

🇰🇿 парализованный

🇬🇪 პარალიზებული

🇦🇿 iflic olmuş

🇲🇽 paralizado

Etymology

The word 'paralyzed' originates from the Greek word 'paralyein', which means to disable or to loosen. The prefix 'para-' means 'beside' or 'alongside,' and 'lyein' translates to 'loosen' or 'release'. The term found its way into Latin as 'paralytus', which referred to someone who is unable to move. In the 19th century, 'paralyzed' made its entry into the English language, specifically referring to the medical condition where nerve damage inhibits movement. Over time, its usage broadened to include metaphorical contexts, such as feeling emotionally or mentally immobilized. Today, it is widely used in both medical terminology and everyday conversations to describe a state of extreme incapacitation.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,160, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.