handlingslammelse

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From handling (“action, act”) +‎ lammelse (“paralysis”), with linking -s- (“interfix”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhand.lɪŋsˌlamː.əl.sə/, [ˈhan.lɪŋsˌlamː.əl.sə]
• Rhymes: -əlsə
• Hyphenation: hand‧lings‧lam‧mel‧se

Noun

handlingslammelse m (definite singular handlingslammelsen, indefinite plural handlingslammelser, definite plural handlingslammelsene)

1. inability to act, paralysis; a state of lethargy or powerlessness where a person, organization, or government is incapable of taking necessary action or making decisions

   Synonyms: apati, letargi, tiltaksløshet

   Handlingslammelsen tar overhånd. ― The inability to act takes the upper hand.

   Handlingslammelsen som kom over ham låste ham fast i uvirksomhet. ― The paralysis that came over him locked him fast in inactivity.

   • 1983, Haakon Lie, Slik jeg ser det:

     en handlingslammelse som tidligere hadde vært ukjent i partiets etterkrigshistorie

     a paralysis that had previously been unknown in the party's postwar history

   • 1993, Knut Faldbakken, Ormens år:

     [han] foraktet sin svake, velmenende far for hans feighet og handlingslammelse

     [he] despised his weak, well-meaning father for his cowardice and inability to act

   • 2012 September 4, Dagbladet‎^[1]:

     her avdekkes en styringskultur som er preget av inkompetanse, ansvarspulverisering og handlingslammelse

     here a management culture is uncovered that is characterized by incompetence, pulverization of responsibility and inability to act

References

• “handlingslammelse” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “handlingslammelse” in Norwegian Academy Dictionary (NAOB).