Catatonia:

n. An abnormal condition variously characterized by stupor, stereotypy, mania, and either rigidity or extreme flexibility of the limbs. It is most often associated with schizophrenia. [New Latin, from German Katatonie, from Greek katatonos, stretching tight, fromkatateinein, to stretch tight : kata-, intensive pref.; see cata- + teinein, to stretch; seeten- in Indo-European roots.] cata·tonic (-tnk) adj. & n. cata·toni·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.