epilepsy

英文詞源

epilepsy

epilepsy: [16] Etymologically, epilepsy is the Greek equivalent of English seizure or attack. The word comes, via French or Latin, from Greek epilēpsíā, a derivative of epilambánein ‘seize upon’. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix epí- ‘on’ and lambánein ‘take hold of’.

epilepsy (n.)

1570s, from Middle French epilepsie (16c.), from Late Latin epilepsia, from Greek epilepsis "epilepsy," literally "a seizure," from epilambanein "to lay hold of, seize upon, attack," especially of diseases, but also of events, armies, etc., from epi "upon" (see epi-) + lepsis "seizure," from leps-, future stem of lambanein "take hold of, grasp" (see analemma). Earlier was epilencie (late 14c.), from Middle French epilence, a variant form influenced by pestilence. The native name in English was falling sickness.