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1. Dictionary

   par·a·lyze

   /ˈperəˌlīz/

   verb

   • 1. cause (a person or part of the body) to become partly or wholly incapable of movement: "Mrs. Burrows had been paralyzed by a stroke" Similar disableimmobilizerender/make powerlessincapacitatedebilitatenumbdeadenbenumbdullrare:obtundtorpefy
   • ▪ render (someone) unable to think or act normally, especially through panic or fear: "some people are paralyzed by the thought of failure" Similar immobilizetransfixbecome rooted to the spotfreezestunrender motionlessbecome horror-struck/horror-strickenpetrifyrare:gorgonize
   • ▪ bring (a system, place, or organization) to a standstill by causing disruption or chaos: "the regional capital was paralyzed by a general strike" Similar bring to a standstillimmobilizebring to a (grinding) halthaltstopfreezecrippledisableput out of action/commissionrender inoperativedeactivaterare:disenable

   Word Origin late Middle English: in early use probably from late Middle English paralysie ‘paralysis’ or its source Old French paralysie + -ize; in later use from French paralyser, from paralysie ‘paralysis’ (see paralysis).

   Derivatives

   • 1. paralyzation noun

   Scrabble Points: 22

   • P

     3

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

   • Y

     4

   • Z

     10

   • E

     1

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