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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Catalepsy

Catalepsy \Cat"a*lep`sy\, ||Catalepsis \Cat`a*lep"sis\, n. [NL. catalepsis, fr. Gr. ? a seizure, fr. ? to seize upon; kata` down + ? to take, seize.] (Med.) A sudden suspension of sensation and volition, the body and limbs preserving the position that may be given them, while the action of the heart and lungs continues.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
catalepsy

late 14c., cathalempsia, from Medieval Latin catalepsia, from Late Latin catalepsis, from Greek katalepsis "a seizure, a seizing upon, a taking possession," from kataleptos "seized," from katalambanein "to seize upon," from kata- "down" (see cata-) + lambanein "to take" (see analemma).\n

Wiktionary
catalepsy

n. (context pathology English) severe bodily condition, described in psychiatric pathology, marked by sudden rigidity, fixation of posture, and loss of contact with environmental conditions

WordNet
catalepsy

n. a trancelike state with loss of voluntary motion and failure to react to stimuli

Wikipedia
Catalepsy
Not to be confused with Cataplexy. For the band of the same name, see Catalepsy (band).

Catalepsy (from Greek κατάληψις "seizing/grasping") is a nervous condition characterized by muscular rigidity and fixity of posture regardless of external stimuli, as well as decreased sensitivity to pain.

Catalepsy (band)

Catalepsy is an American deathcore band formed in 2004. To date they have had three releases - one EP, Godless, and two studio albums, Iniquity and Bleed.

Usage examples of "catalepsy".

Out of this catalepsy, his spirit sometimes fell headlong into black waters.

He noted that during one phase of hypnotism, known as catalepsy, the arms, limbs, etc.

The doctor then took each one and subjected him to a separate physical test, such as sealing the eyes, fastening the hands, stiffening the fingers, arms, and legs, producing partial catalepsy and causing stuttering and inability to speak.

He recognized three distinct stages--lethargy, catalepsy and somnambulism.

For instance, besides the fixing of the eye on a bright object, catalepsy may be produced by a sudden sound, as of a Chinese gong, a tom-tom or a whistle, the vibration of a tuningfork, or thunder.

If a solar spectrum is suddenly brought into a dark room it may produce catalepsy, which is also produced by looking at the sun, or a lime light, or an electric light.

This is, however, a verging toward the somnambulistic stage, for in deep catalepsy the patient does not speak or hear.

Strangely enough, he soon went off to sleep, fell into a state of catalepsy, and was insensible when pricked.

That though Lucie had sufficiently strangled herself as to induce a kind of catalepsy, she was not dead, and did not die until the injury of a mainly collapsed windpipe was augmented by the disadvantages of the grave.

He recalled stories of catalepsy, the marvels of magnetism, and he said to himself that by willing it with all his force he might perhaps succeed in reviving her.

He had lain unconscious throughout the operations of Teufelsbuerst, but now the catalepsy had passed away, possibly under the influence of the electric condition of the atmosphere.

He had fallen into his cosmic catalepsy with his battered-up hero between his hands and the Don had galloped along with him to Kastupanenagua.

It is a sort of trance or catalepsy to be able to achieve which is worth untold gold to the soldier who knows the value of being able to stand and just be a piece of wood.

It seems evident, then, that all the phenomena of animal magnetism have been from an early period known to mankind under the various forms of divinatory ecstasy, demonopathy or witchmania, theomania, or fanatical religious excitation, spontaneous catalepsy, and somnambulism.

This is, however, a verging toward the somnambulistic stage, for in deep catalepsy the patient does not speak or hear.