noun
- Plural of apoplexy; sudden loss of consciousness or ability to move, typically caused by a stroke or bleeding in the brain.
- Plural of apoplexy; sudden violent emotion or rage (archaic figurative use).
Usage: Medical term; often used in historical or literary contexts; Modern medicine typically uses 'stroke' instead
Usage: archaic; figurative
Examples
- The elderly patient suffered from recurrent apoplexies that left him partially paralyzed.
- In the 18th century, apoplexies were often fatal and poorly understood.
- The doctor warned that stress could trigger apoplexies in susceptible individuals.
- Historical records describe several apoplexies among the royal family.
- Modern neurologists rarely use the term apoplexies, preferring 'cerebral strokes' instead.