palsied
palsied Lexical Profile
palsied Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Affected with palsy; paralyzed, trembling, or shaking involuntariy.
"The elderly scribe held the quill in his palsied hand, struggling to sign the parchment."
Rendered helpless, ineffective, or powerless to act.
"The administration remained palsied by internal divisions during the economic crisis."
• verb
To afflict with palsy or paralysis; to render powerless or unable to act (past tense and past participle of palsy).
"Sudden terror palsied his tongue, leaving him unable to call out for assistance."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern clinical contexts, "palsied" is considered dated or archaic, having been largely replaced by specific neurological terms such as "paralyzed" or "tremulous," though it remains common in literary and figurative prose.
• Rhymes for palsied
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Middle English "palesie," borrowed from Old French "paralisie," which traces back to Latin and Ancient Greek "paralysis" (a loosening or disabling of the nerves).