Narcolepsy
/ˈnɑːr.kəˌlɛp.si/noun
A neurological disorder marked by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks.
Did you know?Narcolepsy was coined in the late 19th century from Greek roots meaning “numbness” and “seizure,” turning a medical diagnosis into a word that sounds like a spell.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
narkē
“numbness, stupor”
Ancient Greek
Greek
lēpsis
“a seizure, taking hold”
Late 19th Century
French
narcolepsie
“a newly coined medical term for sudden sleep attacks”
Modern English
English
narcolepsy
“a sleep disorder causing excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep episodes”
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