ep·i·lep·sy

(ĕp′ə-lĕp′sē)

n. pl. ep·i·lep·sies

Any of various neurological disorders marked by sudden recurring attacks of motor, sensory, or cognitive dysfunction, with or without convulsive seizures or loss of consciousness. Also called seizure disorder.

[French épilepsie, from Latin epilēpsia, from Greek epilēpsis, from epilambanein, epilēp-, to lay hold of : epi-, epi- + lambanein, to seize.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

epilepsy

(ˈɛpɪˌlɛpsɪ)

(Pathology) a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by periodic loss of consciousness with or without convulsions. In some cases it is due to brain damage but in others the cause is unknown. See also grand mal, petit mal

[C16: from Late Latin epilēpsia, from Greek, from epilambanein to attack, seize, from lambanein to take]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ep•i•lep•sy

(ˈɛp əˌlɛp si)

n.

a disorder of the nervous system, characterized either by mild, episodic loss of attention or sleepiness (petit mal) or by severe convulsions with loss of consciousness (grand mal).

[1570–80; < Late Latin epilēpsia < Greek epilēpsía epileptic seizure, derivative of epilambánein to get hold of, attack]

ep·i·lep·sy

(ĕp′ə-lĕp′sē)

A disorder characterized by a tendency to have seizures. It is caused by an abnormal discharge of electrical activity in the brain.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

epilepsy

a disease of the nervous system characterized by convulsions, often leading to unconsciousness. — epileptic, n., adj.

epilepsy

Recurrent and abnormal seizures caused by abnormal and irregular discharges of electricity from the millions of neurons (nerve cells) in the brain.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

epilepsy - a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions

epileptic seizure - convulsions accompanied by impaired consciousness

brain disease, brain disorder, encephalopathy - any disorder or disease of the brain

akinetic epilepsy - epilepsy characterized by akinesia

cortical epilepsy, focal epilepsy - epilepsy in which the attacks begins with an isolated disturbance of cerebral function (as a twitching of a limb or an illusory sensation or a mental disturbance)

epilepsia major, generalized epilepsy, grand mal, grand mal epilepsy - epilepsy in which the attacks involve loss of consciousness and tonic spasms of the musculature followed by generalized jerking

Lafora's disease, myoclonus epilepsy - epilepsy characterized by clonus of muscle groups and progressive mental deterioration and genetic origin

epilepsia minor, petit mal, petit mal epilepsy - epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (and possibly other abnormalities); "she has been suffering from petit mal since childhood"

posttraumatic epilepsy, traumatic epilepsy - a convulsive epileptic state caused by a head injury

procursive epilepsy - epilepsy in which a seizure is induced by whirling or running

psychomotor epilepsy, temporal lobe epilepsy - epilepsy characterized clinically by impairment of consciousness and amnesia for the episode; often involves purposeful movements of the arms and legs and sometimes hallucinations

reflex epilepsy - a form of epilepsy in which attacks are induced by peripheral stimulation

status epilepticus - a condition in which there are continuing attacks of epilepsy without intervals of consciousness; can lead to brain damage and death

tonic epilepsy - epilepsy in which the body is rigid during the seizure

Translations

صَرْع

epilepsie

epilepsi

epilepsia

epilepsijapadavica

epilepszia

flogaveiki

epilessia epilettico

epilepsijaepileptikas

epilepsija, krītamā kaite

epilepsi fallesyke

epilepsia

epilepsijapadavicaепилепсијападавица

sara

癫痫症

epilepsy

[ˈepɪlepsɪ] N → epilepsia f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

epilepsy

[ˈɛpɪlɛpsi] n → épilepsie f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

epilepsy

n → Epilepsie f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

epilepsy

[ˈɛpɪˌlɛpsɪ] n → epilessia

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

epilepsy

(ˈepilepsi) noun

a disease of the nervous system causing attacks of unconsciousness, usually with violent movements of the body.

ˌepiˈleptic (-tik) noun, adjective

(a person who is) suffering from epilepsy.

adjective

of, or caused by, epilepsy. She has epileptic fits.

ep·i·lep·sy

n. epilepsia, desorden neurológico gen. crónico y con frecuencia hereditario que se manifiesta con ataques o convulsiones y a veces con pérdida del conocimiento.

epilepsy

n epilepsia

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

He had shown signs of some obscure nervous disease before his arrest and this now developed into violent attacks of epilepsy, from which he suffered for the rest of his life.

View in context

At this moment the whole soul of the old man seemed centred in his eyes which became bloodshot; the veins of the throat swelled; his cheeks and temples became purple, as though he was struck with epilepsy; nothing was wanting to complete this but the utterance of a cry.

View in context

Replying to them, he made known to the inquirer that he certainly had been long absent from Russia, more than four years; that he had been sent abroad for his health; that he had suffered from some strange nervous malady--a kind of epilepsy, with convulsive spasms.

View in context

He had seen his fellow elephants die of cold and epilepsy and starvation and sunstroke up at a place called Ali Musjid, ten years later; and afterward he had been sent down thousands of miles south to haul and pile big balks of teak in the timberyards at Moulmein.

View in context

Further on, a young scamp was taking a lesson in epilepsy from an old pretender, who was instructing him in the art of foaming at the mouth, by chewing a morsel of soap.

View in context

Epilepsy, which is characterized by unprovoked and recurrent seizures, is a common brain disorder associated with elevated mortality rate, decreased social participation, as well as declined quality of life (1-3).

Circulating high mobility group box-1 and toll-like receptor 4 expressions increase the risk and severity of epilepsy

Three-quarters of people living with epilepsy in low-income countries do not get the treatment they need, increasing their risk of dying prematurely and condemning many to a life of stigma.

There's Scarcity Of Treatment For Epilepsy In Low-Income Countries -WHO

Geneva : Three quarters of people living with epilepsy in low-income countries do not get the treatment they need, increasing their risk of dying prematurely and condemning many to a life of stigma according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Treatment gap for Epilepsy unacceptably high: WHO

One in 100 people in the UK have epilepsy. For National Epilepsy Week (20-26 May) we are encouraging everyone to step up and learn how to keep someone with epilepsy safe when they have a seizure.

Information on epilepsy

KARACHI -- Majority of epilepsy patients can keep fast of Ramazan under medical supervision, said Aafia Movement Pakistan leader and neurophysician Dr Fowzia Siddiqui, who is also president of Epilepsy Foundation of Pakistan.

Majority of epilepsy patients can fast under medical supervision

The widespread belief that epilepsy is caused by witchcraft has made many people in Kitui live with the treatable condition for a lifetime, a county medical official has said.

Belief in witchcraft hinders treatment of epilepsy - official

San Francisco, CA, May 01, 2019 --(PR.com)-- Join the Northern CA Epilepsy Foundation at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on May 18, 2019 for the 27th Annual Epilepsy Awareness Stroll.

27th Annual Stroll for Epilepsy Awareness