epilepsy

Since 16th century; borrowed from Old French epilepsie, from Latin epilēpsia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιληψία (epilēpsía), from ἐπιλαμβάνω (epilambánō, “I seize”), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + λαμβάνω (lambánō, “I take”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛpɪlɛpsi/
• Hyphenation: ep‧i‧lep‧sy

epilepsy (countable and uncountable, plural epilepsies)

1. (pathology) A medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures (or convulsions) and blackouts.
   • Jeremy Taylor

     Epilepsies, or fallings and reelings, and beastly vomitings. The least of these, even when the tongue begins to be untied, is a degree of drunkenness.

• epileptic
• epileptiform

• falling sickness
• grand mal
• petit mal