palsy
/'pɔ:lzi/
Definition
Noun:
- A medical condition characterized by uncontrollable tremor or shaking: "Palsy" refers to a state of paralysis, often involving involuntary tremors or a loss of muscle control in a part of the body.
- Paralysis, especially when accompanied by tremors: It denotes a loss or impairment of motor function.
Verb:
- To affect with palsy; to paralyze: To cause a loss of sensation or the power of movement; to render powerless.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The patient was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a disorder affecting movement and muscle tone.
- A palsy in his right hand made it difficult for him to write.
Verb (less common in modern usage):
- Fear palsied his limbs, leaving him unable to move. (This usage is now largely literary or archaic.)
Advanced Usage
- "Shaking palsy": An older term for Parkinson's disease, emphasizing the tremor symptom.
- In the 19th century, Parkinson's disease was often referred to as the shaking palsy.
Variants and Related Words
Bell's palsy (noun phrase): A temporary form of facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to a facial nerve.
- She recovered fully from Bell's palsy after a few weeks.
Palsied (adjective): Affected with or characterized by palsy.
- His palsied hand struggled to hold the cup steady.
Synonyms
- Paralysis (noun): Loss of the ability to move.
- Tremor (noun): An involuntary quivering movement (specifically for the shaking aspect).
- Disable (verb): To deprive of capability (a broader synonym for the verb form).
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Palsy-walsy" (adjective, informal): An idiom meaning excessively friendly or chummy. (Note: This is a distinct, informal term derived from "palsy" but with a different meaning related to "pal").
- I don't trust his palsy-walsy attitude; it seems insincere.
Noun
-
a condition marked by uncontrollable tremor
-
loss of the ability to move a body part
Verb
-
affect with palsy
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