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Webster 1913 Edition
Epilepsy
Ep′i-lepˊsy
,Noun.
[L.
epilepsia
, Gr. [GREEK] a seizure, the “falling sickness,” fr. [GREEK] to take besides, seize, attack; ἐπί
upon, besides + [GREEK] to take: cf. F. épilepsie
. Cf. Catalepsy
.] (Med.)
The “falling sickness,” so called because the patient falls suddenly to the ground; a disease characterized by paroxysms (or fits) occurring at interval and attended by sudden loss of consciousness, and convulsive motions of the muscles.
Dunglison.
Webster 1828 Edition
Epilepsy
EP'ILEPSY
,Noun.