psycholepsyn.
/ˈsʌɪkə(ʊ)lɛpsi/, U.S. /ˈsaɪkəˌlɛpsi/ Psychology. Now chiefly historical.
A (supposed) condition equivalent to epilepsy or an epileptic seizure that affects mental processes (consciousness, cognitive function, behaviour, etc.). Also: a feeling of possession or ecstasy resulting from this.
ΚΠ
1886 H. Maudsley Nat. Causes & Supernat. Seemings 351 Theologian and philosopher alike exhibit the strained functions of a sort of psycholepsy.
1887 H. Maudsley in Mind 12 508 There is a veritable psycholepsy or neurolepsy—the condition and effect of the psycholeptic strain being an induction of such a molecular state as to render conduction impossible.
1907 W. A. Turner Epilepsy vi. 137 He [sc. Janet] has introduced the term ‘Psycholepsy’, to indicate the altered consciousness, which gives rise to the psychasthenic phenomena of the ‘dream-states’ just described.
1970 20th Cent. Lit. 16 226/2 Belda dealt with eroticism and psycholepsy, as well as with the revolt of conscience.
2000 J. Valsiner & R. van der Veer Social Mind 108 Janet..submitted that in most cases the disease starts with psychophysiological insufficiencies that are followed by crises of psycholepsy (i.e., sudden lowering of the psychological tension).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1886