WorldAugust 15, 2026

quadriplegic

kwah-druh-PLEE-jik

Definition

A person who is affected by paralysis of all four limbs and the torso, usually resulting from spinal cord injury.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'quadri-' (four) and the Greek 'plēgē' (a blow or stroke), this term emerged in the 20th century to describe the medical condition of four-limb paralysis.

In the news

The word is used to describe a plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the Illinois assisted suicide law, highlighting the concerns of people with significant disabilities regarding medical coercion.

Illinois’ Assisted Suicide Law Is, Yes, Literally Deadly

Read the full article ↗

Patheos

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