Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

paralyze

/ˈpæɹəˌlaɪz/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.65 in modern English

Syllables: par-a-lyze
IPA: /ˈpæɹəˌlaɪz/

22

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To afflict with paralysis.

Transitive verb

verb

To render unable to move; to immobilize.

Transitive verb

verb

To render unable to function properly.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"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!""
"The transport strike paralyzed the city."

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.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: paralysie, paralyser

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpæɹəˌlaɪz/
British English: /ˈpæɹəlaɪz/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

paralyzes (present, singular) paralyzing (participle, present) paralyzed (participle, past) paralyzed (past) paralyse (alternative)

Derived Forms

paralyzation paralyzer

Synonyms

paralyse

Rhymes With

sterilize

Questions

How do you pronounce paralyze?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpæɹəˌlaɪz/.
What does paralyze mean?: To afflict with paralysis.
Where does paralyze come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce paralyze

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