Torpor etymology Even if torpor does not lead to neurofibrillary tangles and cell death, torpor is a natural model system for tau phosphorylation and dephosphorylation . lethargy - weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy TORPOR definition: 1. Definitions and other text are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. English-Estonian dictionary. " Tagore and His India 2001 趣词词源为你提供 torpor 的词源信息[torpor etymology, torpor origin]。 1520s, "electric ray, cramp-fish" (a type of round-bodied flatfish that produces an electric charge to stun prey or for defense), from Latin torpedo "electric ray," originally "numbness, sluggishness" (the fish so called from the effect of being jolted by the ray's electric discharges), from torpere "be numb" (from PIE root *ster-(1) "stiff"). 2013. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. 1 Etymology. In biological contexts, it describes a temporary decrease in physiological activity typically characterized by reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. hrvufbsabskdyiyhrgpwoflgzdcmtdirdxinychimyjqgjtovsgyylskrcierzavfzlsusuzl