paroxysm (2009-06-30)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: ['pæ-rhêk-si-zm]

Definition: A spasm or convulsion; a sudden, convulsive outburst of emotion.

Usage: The term "paroxysm" itself is neutral; there are good ones and bad ones: "Seldom has the world seen such paroxysms of self-destruction as the two European World Wars." As you can see, metaphorical paroxysms are not limited to humans, "One paroxysm of exploding light from the stormy sky obliterated the tree-house that was the garden of his childhood and his first passageway to adulthood." Of course, humans do experience a wide range of them, "The very sight of a credit card sends Beryl into a paroxysm of shopping." (That might be a bit hyperbolic.)

Suggested Usage: The adjective for today's word is "paroxysmal" and the adverb, the expected, "paroxysmally." Aside from medical paroxysms, probably the most common one is the paroxysm of laughter, in which the laugher literally loses control of himself for a moment, rearing his head back and slapping his knees while making loud noises. I'll bet there are others, though.

Etymology: Greek paroxysmos, from paroxynein, "to stimulate, irritate" based on para- "beyond" + oxunein "to goad, sharpen" from oxus "sharp", akin to akis "needle," basis of English "acumen." With this same suffix, -men, the root entered Old Slavic and became Russian kamen "stone." The original root was PIE *ak-y- "sharp," which entered Old English as ecg "sharp side," today "edge." The Old Norse version, eggja "to incite," was borrowed by English during the Viking invasions as "egg" in the sense of "egg on." With the PIE suffix -mer, it turns up as "hammer," with a meaning similar to the Russian word. You will find more PIE on our FAQ sheet.