cataplexy
/ˈkætəˌplɛksi/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.75 in modern English
23
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Narcolepsy has been associated with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system, a 4-megabase region of chromosome 6, which is divided into three subregions: class I, class II, and class III. Class II HLA antigens have been strongly associated with autoimmune diseases. The class II antigen, DQB1*0602, has been associated with narcolepsy. Most (90%-100%) patients with narcolepsy/cataplexy across all ethnic groups have this allele. In addition, 35% to 56% of patients who have narcolepsy without cataplexy also have this allele. However, 20% of the normal population also has the allele, reducing its usefulness in diagnostic testing."
Etymology
From German Kataplexie, from Ancient Greek κατάπληξις (katáplēxis), from κατά (katá, “down”) + πλῆξῐς (plêxĭs, “blow, act of striking”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: Kataplexie, κατάπληξις