spasm odically

spas·mod·ic

[spaz-mod-ik]
adjective
1.
pertaining to or of the nature of a spasm; characterized by spasms.
2.
resembling a spasm or spasms; sudden but brief; sporadic: spasmodic efforts at reform.
3.
given to or characterized by bursts of excitement.
Also, spas·mod·i·cal.


Origin:
1675–85; < Medieval Latin spasmodicus < Greek spasmṓd(ēs) spasmodic (derivative of spasmós spasm; see -ode1) + Latin -icus -ic

spas·mod·i·cal·ly, adverb
an·ti·spas·mod·ic, adjective, noun
post·spas·mod·ic, adjective
un·spas·mod·ic, adjective
un·spas·mod·i·cal, adjective
un·spas·mod·i·cal·ly, adverb


2. occasional, intermittent, periodic, fleeting.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Spasm odically is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
Collins
World English Dictionary
spasmodic or spasmodical (spæzˈmɒdɪk) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  taking place in sudden brief spells
2.  of or characterized by spasms
 
[C17: New Latin, from Greek spasmosspasm]
 
spasmodical or spasmodical
 
adj
 
[C17: New Latin, from Greek spasmosspasm]
 
spas'modically or spasmodical
 
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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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

spasmodic
1681, from M.L. spasmodicus, from Gk. spasmodes "of the nature of a spasm," from spasmos (see spasm) + -odes "like."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

spasmodic spas·mod·ic (spāz-mŏd'ĭk)
adj.

  1. Relating to, affected by, or having the character of a spasm; convulsive.

  2. Happening intermittently; fitful.

  3. Given to sudden outbursts of energy or of feeling; excitable.


spas·mod'i·cal·ly adv.

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