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# paralysis

noun (paralysis, uncountable; plural paralyses, rare)

«paralysis» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Loss of the ability to move some or all of the body, usually because of injury or illness to the nerves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/#m1)
2. A state of not being able to act, decide or work: "a paralysis of fear", "traffic paralysis". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/#m2)

### In the lessons

In health and science, paralysis happens when nerves or the spinal cord are damaged; many people with paralysis use wheelchairs and live full lives. In news, snow or strikes can cause paralysis of transport. In stories, a character may feel paralysis from fear.

### Examples

- After the accident he had paralysis in his legs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/#x1)
- Polio once caused paralysis in many children. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/#x2)
- The snowstorm caused paralysis on the roads. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/#x3)
- She stood in a paralysis of fear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/#x4)
- Some spiders' bites cause paralysis in insects. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/#x5)
- Many athletes with paralysis compete in the Paralympics. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/#x6)

### Note

Usually uncountable. Verb: paralyse (UK), paralyze (US); adjective: paralysed / paralyzed. Speak respectfully: say "a person with paralysis", and remember that many disabled people live active lives.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «paralysis» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paralysis/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«paralysis» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/paralysis.html) on Mova free.