# epilepsy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɛpᵻlɛpsi/ · frequency rank #15,810

## Definitions
1. A medical condition in which the sufferer experiences seizures (or convulsions) and blackouts.

## Etymology
Since 16th century; borrowed from French épilepsie, from Latin epilēpsia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιληψίᾱ (epilēpsíā), from ἐπιλαμβάνω (epilambánō, “I seize”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “upon”) + λαμβάνω (lambánō, “I take”). Displaced native Old English fiellesēocnes (literally “falling sickness”).

## Common misspellings (12)
`eiplepsy`, `epielpsy`, `epileppsy`, `epilepssy`, `epilepsyy`, `epilepys`, `epilespy`, `epillepsy`, `epilpesy`, `epliepsy`, `eppilepsy`, `peilepsy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/epilepsy