/ ˈkætəlepsi; NAmE / noun
[ U ] ( medical ) a condition in which sb's body becomes stiff and they temporarily become unconscious
► cata·lep·tic / ˌkætəˈleptɪk; NAmE / adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French catalepsie or late Latin catalepsia , from Greek katalēpsis , from katalambanein seize upon.