— cataleptic , adj. , n. — cataleptically , adv.
/kat"l ep'see/ , n. Pathol., Psychiatry.
a physical condition usually associated with catatonic schizophrenia, characterized by suspension of sensation, muscular rigidity, fixity of posture, and often by loss of contact with environment.
Also, catalepsis .
[ 1350-1400; catalepsia, var. of LL catalepsis katálepsis seizure (akin to katalambánein to hold down), equiv. to kata- CATA- + lêpsis a grasping ( lep-, var. s. of lambánein to grasp + -sis -SIS); r. ME cathalempsia ]