state resembling trance: actual or apparent unconsciousness during which muscles become rigid and remain in any position in which they are placed. The condition occurs naturally in diseases such as schizophrenia or epilepsy and can be induced by hypnosis or drugs.
[14th century. Directly or via French< late Latin catalepsia< Greek katalēpsis "seizure" < katalambanein "seize upon" < lambanein "seize"]
