Epilepsy comes from Greek epilēpsia (seizure, a taking hold of), from epilambanein (to seize upon) — the ancients called it 'the sacred disease,' believing seizures were divine visitations.
A neurological disorder marked by recurrent seizures involving loss of consciousness and convulsions.
From Greek epilēpsia (ἐπιληψία), meaning 'a seizure, a taking hold of,' from epilambanein (to seize upon), composed of epi- (upon) and lambanein (to take, seize). The ancient Greeks understood the seizure as something that 'seized' or 'took hold of' the person. It was also called the 'sacred disease' because the ancients believed it was inflicted by the gods. Key roots: epi- (Greek: "upon, on"), lambanein (Greek: "to take, seize").