a disease of the brain caused by syphilis of the central nervous system and characterized by inflammation of the meninges, dementia, paralytic attacks, etc.
: in full general paresis
Derived forms
paretic (paˈretic) (pəˈrɛtɪk; pəˈritɪk)
noun, adjective
Word origin
ModL < Gr < parienai, to relax < para- (see para-1) + hienai, to set in motion (see jet1)