Bradykinesia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A medical condition characterized by abnormally slow movement
2. The state of reduced speed in physical motions often seen in neurological disorders
3. A symptom involving a noticeable decrease in the pace of voluntary actions

Etymology: Bradykinesia is a medical term built entirely from Greek parts. "Brady-" comes from the Greek "bradys", meaning "slow", and "-kinesia" comes from "kinēsis", meaning "movement", the same root that gives English words like "kinetic" and "cinema". Put together, the word describes slowness of movement, and it is used mainly in neurology to describe a hallmark symptom of conditions such as Parkinson's disease. The "-kinesia" element is a recurring pattern in medical vocabulary. Words ending in it, such as "akinesia" (absence of movement) and "dyskinesia" (abnormal, involuntary movement), share the same Greek base, so a clinician can read the whole family of terms from the parts alone.