Paroxysm Definition
părək-sĭzəm
paroxysms
noun
paroxysms
A sudden outburst of emotion or action.
A paroxysm of laughter.
American Heritage Medicine
A sudden attack, or intensification of the symptoms, of a disease, usually recurring periodically.
Webster's New World
A sudden outburst as of laughter, rage, or sneezing; fit; spasm.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Other Word Forms of Paroxysm
Noun
Singular:
paroxysmPlural:
paroxysmsOrigin of Paroxysm
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Middle English paroxism periodic attack of a disease from Medieval Latin paroxysmus from Greek paroxusmos from paroxūnein to stimulate, irritate para- intensive pref. para–1 oxūnein to goad, sharpen (from oxus sharp ak- in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From French paroxysme, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Ancient Greek παροξυσμός (paroksusmos, “irritation, the severe fit of a disease"), from παροξύνειν (paroksunein, “to sharpen, irritate"), from παρά (pará) + ὀξύνειν (oksunein, “sharpen"), from ὀξύς (oksus, “sharp").
From Wiktionary
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