paroxysm
Use Paroxysm in a sentence
əkˌsɪz noun
1.
any sudden, violent outburst; a fit of violent action or emotion: paroxysms of rage.
2.
Pathology. a severe attack or a sudden increase in intensity of a disease, usually recurring periodically.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To paroxysm
00:10
Paroxysm
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
paroxysm (ˈpærəkˌsɪzəm) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | an uncontrollable outburst: a paroxysm of giggling |
| 2. | pathol |
| a. a sudden attack or recurrence of a disease | |
| b. any fit or convulsion | |
| [C17: via French from Medieval Latin paroxysmus annoyance, from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein to goad, from | |
| parox'ysmal | |
| —adj | |
| parox'ysmic | |
| —adj | |
| parox'ysmally | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
paroxysm
"sudden attack, convulsion," 1577, from M.Fr. paroxysme (16c.), earlier paroxime (13c.), from M.L. paroxysmus "irritation, fit of a disease," from Gk. paroxysmos, from paroxynein "to irritate, goad," from para- "beyond" + oxynein "sharpen, goad," from oxys "sharp, pointed" (see
acrid). Non-medical sense first attested 1604.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
paroxysm par·ox·ysm (pār'ək-sĭz'əm)
n.
A sharp spasm or fit; a convulsion.
A sudden onset of a symptom or disease, especially one with recurrent manifestations, such as the chills and fever of malaria.
par'ox·ys'mal (-ək-sĭz'məl) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Example sentences
For a moment, he falters in a paroxysm of fear and grief.
It was especially bad at night: I'd lie down to sleep and that would trigger a paroxysm.
Perry's paroxysm injected an imponderable into the equation.
At that point, the Government undergoes a paroxysm of coming to policy closure.
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