cataplexy: Meaning and Definition of

cat•a•plex•y

Pronunciation: (kat'u-plek"sē), [key]
— n.
  1. a condition characterized by sudden, brief attacks of muscle weakness sometimes causing the body to fall helplessly, that is usually triggered by strong emotion: often associated with narcolepsy.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.