What does palsied mean?
“Palsied” means affected by palsy, a condition involving paralysis, severe weakness, or loss of control in part of the body. It may describe a person's limbs or, figuratively, an institution, movement, or plan that has become unable to act effectively. The word is less common in everyday modern English than the more general “paralysed” or “paralyzed,” and it often has a literary or somewhat old-fashioned tone. Historically, it developed from the noun “palsy,” which comes from a wider family of words associated with paralysis. “Palsied” remains useful when an author wants to evoke physical helplessness, extreme weakness, or an inability to move that is more vivid and particular than a general description of disability.
adjectiveAffected by palsy, especially unable to move a part of the body because of paralysis or severe weakness. The word is now chiefly literary or figurative.
- Affected by palsy; unable to move or control part of the body normally.
- Figuratively, unable to act, move, or function effectively because of weakness, fear, or another disabling condition.
"The old soldier's palsied hands could barely hold the letter."
"The child looked at his palsied grandmother with a mixture of affection and concern."
"After the injury, his left arm remained palsied for several months."
"The political reform was palsied by opposition from within the party."
“Palsied” preserves an older, more literary sound for a condition now usually described as paralysis or immobility.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of palsied
“Palsied” was formed in English from the noun “palsy” with the suffix “-ed,” meaning “affected by” or “having the condition of.” “Palsy” derives through Middle English from Old French “paralisis,” ultimately from Greek “paralysis,” from a form meaning “letting go” or “release” and related to “paralysin,” meaning to loosen or disable. The same broad Greek and Latin root underlies related English words such as “paralysis,” “paralytic,” and “paraplegic.”
Related word forms
How palsied is actually used
Chiefly literary and somewhat old-fashioned. In ordinary modern usage, paralysed or paralyzed is usually preferred; palsied can carry a more vivid or figurative sense of severe weakness.
Easily confused with palsied
Palsy is the medical condition causing paralysis or loss of movement, whereas palsied is the adjective describing someone or something affected by it.
Paralyzed is the standard modern adjective for being unable to move, while palsied is a more literary and less common equivalent.