— cataplectic , /kat'euh plek"tik/ , adj.
/kat"euh plek'see/ , n.
Pathol. a condition characterized by sudden, brief attacks of muscle weakness sometimes causing the body to fall helplessly, that is usually triggered by strong emotion: often associated with narcolepsy.
[ 1880-85; Kataplexie katáplexis (with suffix prob. by analogy with Apoplexie APOPLEXY) fixation (of the eyes), equiv. to kataplek- (var. s. of katapléssein to strike down) + -sis -SIS ]