paralyze

• paralyse (British standard spelling)

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.^[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpæɹəlaɪz/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (General American, without the Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˈpæɹəˌlaɪz/
• (General American, Canada, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛɹəˌlaɪz/

  • Audio (non-native):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈpæɹəlɑez/
• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛɹəlaɪz/, [ˈpɛɹəlɑez]

paralyze (third-person singular simple present paralyzes, present participle paralyzing, simple past and past participle paralyzed)

1. (transitive) To afflict with paralysis.
2. (transitive) To render unable to move; to immobilize.
   • 2006, The H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, “Harley Got Devoured by the Undead”, in An Even Scarier Solstice:

     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!"

3. (transitive) To render unable to function properly.

   The transport strike paralyzed the city.