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convulse

 - 4 dictionary results

con⋅vulse

  [kuhn-vuhls]
Use convulse in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -vulsed, -vuls⋅ing.
1. to shake violently; agitate.
2. to cause to shake violently with laughter, anger, pain, etc.
3. to cause to suffer violent, spasmodic contractions of the muscles.
Origin:
1635–45; < L convulsus ptp. of convellere to shatter, tear loose, equiv. to con- con- + vul- (var. s. of vellere to pull, tear) + -sus, var. of -tus ptp. suffix

Related forms:
con⋅vuls⋅ed⋅ly, adverb
con⋅vuls⋅i⋅ble, adjective
con⋅vuls⋅i⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To convulse
con·vulse   (kən-vŭls')   
v.   con·vulsed, con·vuls·ing, con·vuls·es

v.   tr.

  1. To shake or agitate violently: tremors that convulsed the countryside; when civil war convulsed the nation. See Synonyms at agitate.

  2. To affect with irregular and involuntary muscular contractions; throw into convulsions.

  3. 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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

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>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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