Where does “paralysis” come from?
Paralysis comes from Latin paralysis, from Ancient Greek παράλυσις, formed from παρά meaning "beside" and λύω meaning "to loosen," thus literally denoting a loosening or disabling of the body.
paralysis (English): The complete loss of voluntary control of part of...
Definitions
- The complete loss of voluntary control of part of...
Ancestry of “paralysis”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | paralysis | paralysis, palsy |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | παράλυσις | paralysis |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | παραλύω | to weaken, to cause sickness or illness |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πᾰρᾰ- | near; next to; by, near |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | παρά | |
| 6 | Latin | verēdus | A fast or light breed of horse; courier's horse; hunter |
| 7 | Gaulish | werēdos | horse |
| 8 | Proto-Celtic | *uɸoreidos | horse |