n. Complete paralysis of the lower half of the body including both legs, usually caused by damage to the spinal cord. [Greek dialectal paraplēgiē, hemiplegia, from paraplēssesthai, paraplēg-, to be paralyzed, from paraplēssein, to strike on one side : para-, beside; see PARA-1 + plēssein, to strike; see plāk-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] par′a·plegic (-plējĭk) adj. & n. |
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