Added 10 October 2026
epilepsy
/ˈɛpɪlɛpsi/ noun
In Latin: epilēpsia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about epilepsy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures (or convulsions) and blackouts.
Origin
Since 16th century; borrowed from French épilepsie, from Latin epilēpsia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιληψίᾱ (epilēpsíā), from ἐπιλαμβάνω (epilambánō, “to seize”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “upon”) + λαμβάνω (lambánō, “to take”). Displaced native Old English fiellesēocnes (literally “falling sickness”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)