Lepsy

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sudden attack or seizure of a physical or mental condition characterized by involuntary bodily functions
2. An episode marked by a brief loss of consciousness or control, often resembling a fit or convulsion
3. A condition involving an abrupt onset of symptoms, particularly those associated with altered perception or function

Etymology: Ancient Greek physicians knew a condition they called "epilēpsia," from "epilambanein," meaning "to seize upon." The Greek noun "lēpsis" meant "a taking" or "a seizing," and it came from "lambanein," "to take hold of." The suffix was originally about being grabbed by something outside oneself, and that sense of sudden seizure carried over into the medical vocabulary. "Lepsy" is not a standalone English word. It is a combining form that appears at the end of medical terms such as "epilepsy," "narcolepsy," and "catalepsy," each pairing a Greek prefix with the "seizure" element. Its root is the same as "lemma," a Greek noun for something taken or assumed, which shows up in English mainly in technical contexts.

Synonyms: epilepsy, seizure disorder, convulsive disorder, neurological disorder, fit