Paralysis is a complete loss of movement in part of the body. Partial paralysis, paralysis of the legs, temporary paralysis.
The named kinds are by extent: paraplegia affects the legs, quadriplegia all four limbs, and hemiplegia one side. Causes include spinal injury, stroke and certain infections. Sleep paralysis is the brief inability to move on waking, which is common and harmless and extremely frightening. Figuratively, paralysis means total inability to act: political paralysis, paralysis by analysis. Note paralyse, and paralytic.
1nounparalysisA complete loss of movement in part of the body.
“The accident left him with paralysis in both legs.”
2nountotalTotal inability to act.
“Fear of making the wrong choice led to complete paralysis in the government.”
paralysis is a loss of movement.
Greek paralysis means a loosening at the side — para plus lyein, to loosen. The same lyein gives analysis, so paralysis and analysis are the same loosening in different directions.
Proto-Indo-European
*preh₂-
Ancient Greek
παράλυσις — palsy
Latin
paralysis
English, today
paralysis
Built from
Borrowed from Latin paralysis, from Ancient Greek παράλυσις (“palsy”), from παραλύω (“to disable on one side”). by surface analysis, para- + -lysis. a doublet of palsy.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA