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Definition of paralyse verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

paralyse

verb
 
/ˈpærəlaɪz/
 
/ˈpærəlaɪz/
(British English)
(North American English paralyze)
[often passive]
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they paralyse
 
/ˈpærəlaɪz/
 
/ˈpærəlaɪz/
he / she / it paralyses
 
/ˈpærəlaɪzɪz/
 
/ˈpærəlaɪzɪz/
past simple paralysed
 
/ˈpærəlaɪzd/
 
/ˈpærəlaɪzd/
past participle paralysed
 
/ˈpærəlaɪzd/
 
/ˈpærəlaɪzd/
-ing form paralysing
 
/ˈpærəlaɪzɪŋ/
 
/ˈpærəlaɪzɪŋ/
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  1. paralyse somebody to make somebody unable to feel or move all or part of their body
    • The accident left him paralysed from the waist down.
    • He was partially paralysed by the fall.
    • (figurative) paralysing heat
    • (figurative) She stood there, paralysed with fear.
    Topics Health problemsc2, Disabilityc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • totally
    • partially
    phrases
    • leave somebody paralysed
    • be paralysed from the neck, waist, etc. down
    • be paralysed with fear
    See full entry
  2. paralyse something to prevent something from functioning normally
    • The airport is still paralysed by the strike.
  3. Word Originearly 19th cent.: from French paralyser, from paralysie ‘paralysis’.
previously
adverb
 
 
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