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Where does “catalepsy” come from?

Catalepsy comes from Ancient Greek katálēpsis, from κατά meaning "down" and -σῐς denoting a condition or state, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots ḱóm and ḱe.

catalepsy (English): severe bodily condition, described in psychiatric...

Definitions

  1. severe bodily condition, described in psychiatric...

Ancestry of “catalepsy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekκατάληψιςact of seizing
2Ancient GreekκαταλαμβάνωI seize, grasp, hold; I grasp with the mind:...
3Ancient Greekκᾰτᾰ-fully; down; denoting motion downwards
4Ancient Greekκατά
5Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
6Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
7Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →