PARALYZE
paralyze, paralyse
(verb) cause to be paralyzed and immobile; “The poison paralyzed him”; “Fear paralyzed her”
paralyze, paralyse
(verb) make powerless and unable to function; “The bureaucracy paralyzes the entire operation”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
paralyze (third-person singular simple present paralyzes, present participle paralyzing, simple past and past participle paralyzed)
(transitive) To afflict with paralysis.
(transitive) To render unable to move; to immobilize.
(transitive) To render unable to function properly.
Source: Wiktionary
Par"a*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paralyzed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Paralyzing.] Etym: [F. paralyser. See Paralysis.]
1. To affect or strike with paralysis or palsy.
2. Fig.: To unnerve; to destroy or impair the energy of; to render
ineffective; as, the occurrence paralyzed the community; despondency
paralyzed his efforts.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition