athetosis

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noun

A series of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs, typically bilateral and symmetric and predominantly affecting the distal parts of the limbs.

OriginAncient Greek ἄθετος →
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Meanings

nounathetosis (countable and uncountable, plural athetoses)

plural athetoses

  1. countableuncountablemedicineA series of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs, typically bilateral and symmetric and predominantly affecting the distal parts of the limbs.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἄθετος“not fixed”
  2. Englishathetosis

From Ancient Greek ἄθετος (áthetos, “not fixed”), itself from τίθημι (títhēmi), + -osis.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian атето́за
  • атето́за (atetóza)series of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs
Catalan atetosi
  • atetosiseries of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs
Czech atetóza
  • atetózaseries of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs
Finnish atetoosi
  • atetoosiseries of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs
German Athetose
  • Athetoseseries of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs
Polish atetoza
  • atetozaseries of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs
Portuguese atetose
  • atetoseseries of involuntary writhing movements of the limbs
Cite this entry
APA

athetosis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/athetosis

MLA

“athetosis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/athetosis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “athetosis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/athetosis.

Source: athetosis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.