Library / English Dictionary

ABSENCE SEIZURE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The occurrence of an abrupt, transient loss or impairment of consciousness (which is not subsequently remembered), sometimes with light twitching, fluttering eyelids, etc.; common in petit mal epilepsy

Synonyms:

absence; absence seizure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("absence seizure" is a kind of...):

ictus; raptus; seizure (a sudden occurrence (or recurrence) of a disease)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "absence seizure"):

complex absence (an absence seizure accompanied by other abnormalities (atonia or automatisms or vasomotor changes))

pure absence; simple absence (an absence seizure without other complications; followed by 3-per-sec brainwave spikes)

subclinical absence (a transient impairment of cortical function demonstrable only by 3-per-second brainwave spikes)

Holonyms ("absence seizure" is a part of...):

epilepsia minor; petit mal; petit mal epilepsy (epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (and possibly other abnormalities))

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