Paresis vs. Palsy — What's the Difference?

In medicine, paresis () is a condition typified by a weakness of voluntary movement, or by partial loss of voluntary movement or by impaired movement. When used without qualifiers, it usually refers to the limbs, but it can also be used to describe the muscles of the eyes (ophthalmoparesis), the stomach (gastroparesis), and also the vocal cords (Vocal cord paresis).

Palsy is a medical term which refers to various types of paralysis, often accompanied by weakness and the loss of feeling and uncontrolled body movements such as shaking. The word originates from the Anglo-Norman paralisie, parleisie et al., from the accusative form of Latin paralysis, from Ancient Greek παράλυσις (parálusis), from παραλύειν (paralúein, “to disable on one side”), from παρά (pará, “beside”) + λύειν (lúein, “loosen”).

Slight or partial paralysis.

Complete or partial muscle paralysis, often accompanied by loss of sensation and uncontrollable body movements or tremors.

General paresis.

A weakening or debilitating influence.

A paralysis which is incomplete or which occurs in isolated areas.

An enfeebled condition or debilitated state thought to result from such an influence.

Inflammation of the brain as a cause of dementia or paralysis.

A fit of strong emotion marked by the inability to act

Incomplete paralysis, affecting motion but not sensation.

To paralyze.

A slight or partial paralysis

To deprive of strength.

To make helpless, as with fear.

(pathology) Complete or partial muscle paralysis of a body part, often accompanied by a loss of feeling and uncontrolled body movements such as shaking.

To paralyse, either completely or partially.

(colloquial) Chummy, friendly.

Paralysis, complete or partial. See Paralysis.

To affect with palsy, or as with palsy; to deprive of action or energy; to paralyze.

Loss of the ability to move a body part

A condition marked by uncontrollable tremor

Affect with palsy