Definition

Relating to a medical condition where a person becomes stiff and unable to move, often resembling a trance or deep sleep.

Example

The patient was cataleptic, remaining motionless for hours without any sign of awareness.

Conversation

Did you hear about that article on cataleptic episodes in people?

Yeah, it sounds really strange and fascinating at the same time.

I wonder how it feels to be in such a cataleptic state.

It must be quite unsettling, but also a bit intriguing!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A person who has a medical condition characterized by a trance or seizure with loss of sensation and consciousness, often with rigidity of the body.

Example

The cataleptic lay still, unresponsive to the world around them.

Conversation

Have you heard about that cataleptic artist everyone's talking about?

Yeah, it's fascinating how they can hold such still poses for so long.

I wonder what it feels like to be a cataleptic during a performance.

Root Explanation

Cataleptic → It is formed from "cata-" (from Greek "kata", meaning down or against) and "lepsis" (from Greek "lepsis", meaning seizure or attack). The word describes a state of being in which a person is in a trance-like condition, often resembling a seizure or loss of consciousness.

Memory Tip

Think of 'down' ('cata-') and 'seizure' ('lepsis') to remember that 'cataleptic' refers to a state resembling a seizure or trance.

Visually Confused Words