aphasiac
|a-pha-si-ac|
/əˈfeɪziæk/
loss of speech / language
Etymology
'aphasiac' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'aphasiacus', where 'a-' meant 'without' and Greek 'phásis' meant 'speech'.
'aphasiac' developed from the Greek term 'aphasia' (ἀφασία) meaning 'speechlessness' → adopted into New/Modern Latin as 'aphasia'/'aphasiacus' in medical usage → entered English in the 19th century as 'aphasiac' via medical Latin/French.
Initially it referred to having or relating to aphasia ('without speech'); over time it has retained that medical sense, used both as a noun for a person with aphasia and as an adjective describing related conditions.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who has aphasia; someone suffering from a loss of the ability to use or understand language (speech, reading, or writing) due to brain damage.
After his stroke he became an aphasiac and had difficulty finding the right words.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/15 23:50