English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From French paralyser.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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paralyze (third-person singular simple present paralyzes, present participle paralyzing, simple past and past participle paralyzed)

  1. (transitive) To afflict with paralysis.
  2. (transitive) To render unable to move; to immobilize.
    • 2006, The H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, “Harley Got Devoured by the Undead”, in An Even Scarier Solstice:
      So I stood alone in horror / Paralyzed with fear and dread / When a voice dead and inhuman / Whispered to me "go, you fool, Warren's dead!"
  3. (transitive) To render unable to function properly.
    The transport strike paralyzed the city.

Translations

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