palsy

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablemedical

   A condition that causes weakness, loss of control, or paralysis of some muscles, sometimes with shaking.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable: he suffers from palsy.

   Patterns

   • suffer from palsy
   • palsy of something

   Cerebral palsy affects movement and balance, but not everyone's intelligence.

   His doctor said the facial palsy would gradually improve.

   In the old story, the man was cured of palsy.

2. 2nounsingularfigurativeliterary

   A feeling of helplessness or paralysis caused by fear or other strong force.

   Grammar: Usually singular and used figuratively: a palsy of fear.

   Patterns

   • a palsy of something

   A palsy of fear held the crowd silent.

   The company was struck by a palsy of indecision.

   The long delay brought a political palsy to the town.

Word forms

Common combinations

cerebral palsy

Children with cerebral palsy may need extra support.

Bell's palsy

Bell's palsy made one side of her face droop.

facial palsy

He recovered from facial palsy within weeks.

suffer from palsy

The old man suffered from palsy in his hands.

struck with palsy

The patient was struck with palsy overnight.

Synonyms and how they differ

paralysis

Paralysis means complete loss of movement, while palsy can also mean partial weakness or shaking.

tremor

A tremor is just a shaking movement, narrower than palsy which includes weakness.

paresis

Paresis is the technical term for partial weakness and is used by doctors more than palsy.

Word family

palsied adjective

affected by palsy

paralysis noun

loss of the ability to move

paralyse verb

to cause loss of movement

paralytic adjective

relating to paralysis

Commonly confused: palsy or pally?

Practice

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