con·vulse   (kən-vŭls')    v.   con·vulsed, con·vuls·ing, con·vuls·es v.   tr. To shake or agitate violently: tremors that convulsed the countryside; when civil war convulsed the nation. See Synonyms at agitate. To affect with irregular and involuntary muscular contractions; throw into convulsions. To cause to shake with laughter or strong emotion. v.   intr. To become affected by or as if by convulsions; shake. [Latin convellere, convuls-, to pull violently : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + vellere, to pull.]

Convulse

Con*vulse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Convulsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Convulsing.] [L. convulsus, p. p. of convellere to tear up, to shake; con- + vellere to pluck, pull.]

1. To contract violently and irregulary, as the muscular parts of an animal body; to shake with irregular spasms, as in excessive laughter, or in agony from grief or pain.

With emotions which checked his voice and convulsed his powerful frame. --Macaulay.

2. To agitate greatly; to shake violently.

The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations. --Macaulay.

Syn: To agitate; disturb; shake; tear; rend.

Main Entry: con·vulse
Pronunciation: k&n-'v&ls
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: con·vulsed; con·vuls·ing
transitive senses
: to shake or agitate violently; especially : to shake or cause to shake with or as if with irregular spasms convulsed with pain>convulse intransitive senses
: to become affected with convulsions convulse when fever reaches a high point —H. R. Litchfield& L. H. Dembo>

convulse con·vulse (kən-vŭls')
v. con·vulsed, con·vuls·ing, con·vuls·es
To affect with irregular and involuntary muscular contractions; throw into convulsions.