paroxysm

par·ox·ysm  (prk-szm)

n.

1. A sudden outburst of emotion or action: a paroxysm of laughter.

2.

a. A sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of a disease.

b. A spasm or fit; a convulsion.

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[Middle English paroxism, periodic attack of a disease, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxnein, to stimulate, irritate : para-, intensive pref.; see para-¹ + oxnein, to goad, sharpen (from oxus, sharp; see ak- in Indo-European roots).]

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parox·ysmal (-k-szml) adj.

parox·ysmal·ly adv.

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paroxysm

Noun

1. an uncontrollable outburst of emotion: a paroxysm of grief

2. Pathol

a. a sudden attack or recurrence of a disease

b. a fit or convulsion [Greek paroxunein to goad]

paroxysmal adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

paroxysm - a sudden uncontrollable attack; "a paroxysm of giggling"; "a fit of coughing"; "convulsions of laughter" convulsion, fit attack - a sudden occurrence of an uncontrollable condition; "an attack of diarrhea"

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paroxysm

noun outburst, attack, fit, seizure, flare-up (informal) eruption, spasm, convulsion

Translations

paroxysm [ˈpærəksɪzəm] n (MED) → paroxismo, ataque m [of anger, laughter, coughing] → ataque m [of grief] → crisis f

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paroxysm [ˈpærəksɪzəm] n (Med), [of grief]; paroxysme m [of anger]; accès m

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paroxysm [ˈpærəksɪzəm] n (also Med) → Anfall m

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paroxysm [ˈpærəksɪzəm] n (MED) → parossismo; [of anger, laughter, coughing] → convulso; [of grief] → attacco