Definify.com

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.
[Gr. to seize.] The falling sickness, so called because the patient falls suddenly to the ground; a disease accompanied with spasms or convulsions and loss of sense.

Definition 2024

epilepsy

epilepsy

English

Noun

epilepsy ‎(countable and uncountable, plural epilepsies)

  1. (pathology) A medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures (or convulsions) and blackouts.
    • Jeremy Taylor
      Epilepsies, or fallings and reelings, and beastly vomitings. The least of these, even when the tongue begins to be untied, is a degree of drunkenness.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Etymology

Since 16th century; from Old French epilepsie, from Latin epilēpsia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιληψία ‎(epilēpsía), from ἐπιλαμβάνω ‎(epilambánō, “I seize”), from ἐπί ‎(epí, “upon”) + λαμβάνω ‎(lambánō, “I take”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɛpɪlɛpsi/
  • Hyphenation: ep‧i‧lep‧sy

Similar Results