impairment or loss of voluntary muscle function or of sensation (sensory paralysis) in a part or area of the body, usually caused by a lesion or disorder of the muscles or the nerves supplying them
b.
a disease characterized by such impairment or loss; palsy
2.
cessation or impairment of activity
paralysis of industry by strikes
Word origin
C16: via Latin from Greek paralusis; see para-1, -lysis