English
palsy
Palsy comes from Latin paralysis ‘paralysis, palsy’, from Ancient Greek παραλύω ‘to disable on one side’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- ‘to cut off, separate, free’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewh₁-‘to cut off, separate, free’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλύωlúō‘loosen’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπαραλύωparalúō‘to disable on one side’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπαράλυσιςparálusis
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEparalysis‘paralysis, palsy’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400paralisie
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500palesie
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1620palsy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*lewh₁-‘to cut off, separate, free’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEλύωlúō‘loosen’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπαραλύωparalúō‘to disable on one side’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπαράλυσιςparálusis
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEparalysis‘paralysis, palsy’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400paralisie
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500palesie
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1620palsy
Earliest quotation: c. 1620, anonymous, Tom o’ Bedlam’s Song: “The palsie plagues my pulses when I prigg yoͬ:…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- ‘to cut off, separate, free’
so, lose, solution, solve, lease, sol, soluble, resolute, loess, 30 more
through Ancient Greek λύω ‘loosen’
analysis, analyst, dialysis, lysis, 15 more
through Ancient Greek παραλύω ‘to disable on one side’
through Latin paralysis ‘paralysis, palsy’
Today it means
noun Complete or partial muscle paralysis of a body part, often accompanied by a loss of feeling and uncontrolled body movements such as shaking.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- / palsy