Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

catatonia

/ˌkætəˈtoʊniə/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.95 in modern English

Syllables: cata-to-nia
IPA: /ˌkætəˈtoʊniə/

11

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A severe psychiatric condition, often associated with schizophrenia, characterized by a tendency to remain in a rigid state of stupor for long periods which give way to short periods of extreme agitation.

Uncountable

noun

A frozen, unresponsive state, as of electronic equipment.

Informal; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"“Relay that!” Thwaite shouted. Somewhere on the bridge a hand closed over a relay and dropped the AIDs into an electronic catatonia."

Etymology

From international scientific vocabulary, from German Katatonie, from New Latin catatonia, from a Greek word meaning to stretch tight. By surface analysis, cata- + tone + -ia.

Word Breakdown

Root: catatonia

Usage

Inflected Forms

catatonias (plural) catatony (alternative, dated)

Derived Forms

catatonic

Synonyms

catatonic schizophrenia catatonic type schizophrenia

Questions

How do you pronounce catatonia?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌkætəˈtoʊniə/.
What does catatonia mean?: A severe psychiatric condition, often associated with schizophrenia, characterized by a tendency to remain in a rigid state of stupor for long periods which give way to short periods of extreme agitation.
Where does catatonia come from?: From international scientific vocabulary, from German Katatonie, from New Latin catatonia, from a Greek word meaning to stretch tight. By surface analysis, cata- + tone + -ia.

How to pronounce catatonia

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “catatonia”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌkætəˈtoʊniə/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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