paralytic
paralytic Lexical Profile
paralytic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, affected by, or causing paralysis.
"Public health officials issued a warning after detecting a paralytic toxin in local shellfish."
British So severely intoxicated by alcohol as to be incapable of normal movement or speech.
"After celebrating the championship victory all night, several fans were completely paralytic by midnight."
• noun
A person affected by paralysis.
"Historical medical texts often documented experimental physical therapies designed to restore mobility to a paralytic."
A pharmacological drug or chemical agent that induces temporary muscle paralysis, especially during surgery or intubation.
"The anesthesiologist administered a fast-acting paralytic before placing the breathing tube."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to a person with paralysis, the noun 'paralytic' is now considered dated and potentially offensive; person-first phrasing such as 'a person with paralysis' is preferred in modern medical and polite usage. In British and Australian informal speech, the adjective is commonly used to mean extremely intoxicated.
• Rhymes for paralytic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Old French and Latin 'paralyticus' from Ancient Greek 'paralytikos' ('afflicted with palsy'), derived from 'paralyo' ('to loosen at the side, disable').