paralyze

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   cause to be paralyzed and immobile

   The poison paralyzed him

2. 2
   verb

   make powerless and unable to function

   The bureaucracy paralyzes the entire operation

3. 3
   verb

   To render unable to move; to immobilize.

   So I stood alone in horror / Paralyzed with fear and dread / When a voice dead and inhuman / Whispered to me "go, you fool, Warren's dead!"

4. 4
   verb

   To render unable to function properly.

   The transport strike paralyzed the city.

5. 5
   verb

   To afflict with paralysis.

Etymology

Partly a borrowing from French. Probably partly either (i) formed within English, by derivation. Or partly (ii) a borrowing from French, combined with an English element. Etymons: Middle English paralysie, -ize suffix; French paralyser.