Epilepsies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A range of neurological conditions marked by frequent seizures resulting from atypical brain electrical activity, producing diverse symptoms like convulsions and altered awareness
2. Various medical conditions defined by recurrent seizure episodes originating from abnormal brain electrical discharges, often including symptoms such as convulsions and awareness disruptions
3. Neurological diseases characterized by multiple instances of seizures caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain

Etymology: "Epilepsies" is simply the plural of "epilepsy," used when referring to the various forms the condition takes. The noun itself traces back to Ancient Greek "epilēpsiā," built from "epi," meaning "upon," and "lambanein," meaning "to take" or "to seize." The original image was of a sudden force seizing a person from outside, a notion that explains why the condition was once blamed on possession. The word reached English in the 16th century, borrowed from French "épilepsie," which in turn came from Latin "epilēpsia." It displaced the native Old English term "fiellesēocnes," literally "falling sickness," a name that described the collapse that accompanies many seizures and that the English word has largely replaced.

Synonyms: seizure disorders, convulsive disorders