paroxysm (ˈpærəkˌsɪzəm
)
Definitions
noun
- an uncontrollable outburst ⇒
a paroxysm of giggling
- pathology
- a sudden attack or recurrence of a disease
- any fit or convulsion
Alternative Forms
ˌparoxˈysmal ˌparoxˈysmic adjective ˌparoxˈysmally adverbWord Origin
C17: via French from Medieval Latin paroxysmus annoyance, from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein to goad, from para-C17: via French from Medieval Latin annoyance, from Greek from to goad, from 1 (intensifier) + to sharpen, from sharp (intensifier) + oxunein to sharpen, from oxus sharpSynonyms
View thesaurus entryUsage examples
Slamming down the receiver, he fought back the paroxysm of coughing he could feel building in his chest.
, HIDING FROM THE LIGHT (2002)15 If you can't solve the meaning of paroxysm , you may have one.
The Advertiser, Sunday Mail (2005)When Xaba draws nigh both women fall to the floor in a paroxysm of shared fear.
Times, Sunday Times (2002)These invariably ended in a paroxysm of coughing, where he sat swaying on the edge of the bed, his face puce and his eyes streaming.
, Dreamtime (1993)