palsy
UK: ˈpɔːlzi | US: ˈpɔːlzi
n. a condition marked by uncontrollable tremors or paralysis, often due to nerve damage.
vt. (archaic) to paralyze or render powerless.
palsy = pals<to shake> + y<noun suffix>
- pals (from Old French paralisie, derived from Latin paralysis <loss of control>)
- y (noun-forming suffix, indicating a state or condition)
Etymology Origin:
The word "palsy" traces back to the Latin paralysis, meaning "loss of control over limbs." Over time, the Old French paralisie evolved into Middle English palesie, later shortened to "palsy." The morpheme pals- retains the core idea of shaking or paralysis, while -y nominalizes the condition. Historically, "palsy" described tremors (e.g., "shaking palsy," now called Parkinson’s disease), reflecting its root in involuntary movement.
The elderly man’s hands trembled from a mild palsy.
In medieval texts, palsy was often attributed to supernatural causes.
The stroke left her with partial facial palsy.
(Archaic) "Fear palsied his limbs, rendering him immobile."
Modern medicine distinguishes cerebral palsy from other neurological disorders.