paralytic

[ par-uh-lit-ik ]

noun

1. a person affected with paralysis.

adjective

1. affected with or subject to paralysis.
2. pertaining to or of the nature of paralysis.

paralytic

/ ˌpærəˈlɪtɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of paralysis
2. afflicted with or subject to paralysis
3. informal.
   very drunk

noun

1. a person afflicted with paralysis

Derived Forms

• ˌparaˈlytically, adverb

Other Words From

• para·lyti·cal·ly adverb
• nonpar·a·lytic adjective noun
• postpar·a·lytic adjective
• semi·para·lytic noun adjective
• subpar·a·lytic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paralytic¹

1300–50; Middle English paralitik < Latin paralyticus < Greek paralytikós, equivalent to paraly- ( paralysis ) + -tikos -tic

Example Sentences

Public health officials said the traces of poliovirus found in sewage samples from early June in Rockland County and greater Jerusalem were still too weak to cause paralytic polio.

From ProPublica

This year, though, a young child in the Jerusalem area came down with paralytic polio.

From ProPublica

The disease can spread explosively and exponentially, with an average of 200 silent carriers for every paralytic case.

From Time

The sedative midazolam was administered to Lockett first, followed by a paralytic called vecuronium bromide.

From Vox

AFM is a paralytic condition that is not polio—but not dissimilar to polio either.

From Time

I know a woman who has, several times, been driven to the brink of paralytic rage by the way her books have been received.

From The Daily Beast

Paralytic Child Walking on All Fours (from Muybridge), from that year, is a fine example of this stylistic shift.

From The Daily Beast

The healing of the paralytic has been regarded as a type of the restoration of the soul paralyzed by sin.

From Project Gutenberg

In man there is a premonitory stage; a furious stage, which lasts from about a day to three days; then a final paralytic stage.

From Project Gutenberg

The walking may simulate paralytic forms if hysteria is mixed with the neurasthenia.

From Project Gutenberg

If that same paralytic were lying in his bed at home and you set the house afire he would jump up and run.

From Project Gutenberg

A paralytic stroke seized him within a few hours of young Thomas's arrival, and he never fully recovered his faculties.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• paralyzed