generalized seizure
- noun
- /ˈdʒɛnəraˌlaɪzd ˈsiːʒər/
- Specialized
:
crisis generalizada
- In the first instance, seizures are identified as being focal or generalized seizures, and this description relates to where in the brain the abnormal electrical activity is happening and how this affects the body.
Examples
-
Generalized seizures often lead to a loss of consciousness and muscle convulsions throughout the body.
-
Generalized seizures involve both sides of the brain and include tonic-clonic seizures, where the individual will shake, lose consciousness, and fall down.
Academic text (2012) -
During a generalized seizure, the individual may fall to the ground and shake uncontrollably as the seizure affects the whole brain.
-
A person experiencing generalized seizures can become unresponsive, with their body convulsing as a result.
Synonyms
190
5.5
A sudden attack that makes the body shake or lose awareness
6
7.4
A severe epileptic seizure that makes a person lose consciousness and have strong body jerks
3
4.4
A sudden time of shaking or loss of awareness caused by unusual brain activity
An intense seizure when a person loses consciousness and their whole body shakes strongly
Antonyms
- Specialized
1
5.6
A sudden change in movement or feeling caused by unusual activity in one part of the brain
How Severe
- Specialized
1
9.3
- Specialized
- Specialized
3
4.4
- Specialized
1
7.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'generalized' conveys that something is widespread or affecting the whole, and 'seizure' denotes a sudden episode of abnormal brain activity, so together they indicate a seizure affecting the entire brain. Although clinical, this composition follows normal English adjective+noun semantics and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the basic meaning.
Etymology
The medical term generalized seizure combines generalized (meaning 'affecting the whole') and seizure (a sudden event that 'takes hold' of the body). So, it means 'a sudden attack' that affects the whole brain and makes the person lose consciousness and have violent body movements.