English Explanatory Dictionary

palsy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Complete or partial muscle paralysis of a body part, often accompanied by a loss of feeling and uncontrolled body movements such as shaking.
verb
  1. To paralyse, either completely or partially.
adj
  1. Chummy, friendly.
noun
  1. Mate, chum.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɔːlzi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-palsy1.wav /ˈpælzi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-palsy2.wav

Word forms

palsy palsies palsie palsying palsied more palsy most palsy

Etymology

From Middle English palesie, from Anglo-Norman paralisie, parleisie et al., from Latin paralysis, from Ancient Greek παράλυσις (parálusis, “palsy”), from παραλύω (paralúō, “to disable on one side”), from παρα- (para-, “beside”) + λύω (lúō, “loosen”). Doublet of paralysis.

Synonyms

paralysis

Related words

apoplexy

Derived words

artisan's palsy Bell's palsy cerebral palsy Erb-Duchenne palsy Erb's palsy honeymoon palsy impalsy night palsy palsical palsylike palsywort Saturday night palsy scrivener's palsy shaking palsy supranuclear palsy wasting palsy
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