n., pl., -ies.
A sudden loss of muscle tone and strength, usually caused by an extreme emotional stimulus.
[From Greek kataplēxis, fixation (of the eyes), from kataplēssein, to astound, terrify : kata-, intensive pref.; see cata- + plēssein, plēk-, to strike.]
cataplectic cat'a·plec'tic (-plĕk'tĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
