paroxysm
A period during the course of an illness when symptoms worsenA period (especially one of several recurring periods) during the course of an illness when symptoms worsen; a sudden attack of a disease symptom, such as a bout of coughing or a seizure.
» Then suddenly he slapped his thigh in a paroxysm of amusement.
Meaning
5 senses(countable)A period (especially one of several recurring periods) during the course of an illness when symptoms worsen; a sudden attack of a disease symptom, such as a bout of coughing or a seizure.
Paroxysmus
парокси́змparoksízm, припа́докpripádok
пароксизмparoksyzm
(broadly, countable)Chiefly followed by of: a sudden outburst of violent activity or feeling; also, the most severe part of an activity or incident; the climax.
Paroxysmus
парокси́змparoksízm, при́ступprístup
(broadly, countable)A violent occurrence of a natural phenomenon, such as an earthquake, thunderstorm, or volcanic eruption; specifically (volcanology), the most explosive event during a series of volcanic eruptions.
(broadly, rare, uncountable)Disastrous or sudden change.
a sudden uncontrollable attack
(archaic, broadly, countable)An outburst of a violent argument or disagreement.
Examples
1 sentencesThen suddenly he slapped his thigh in a paroxysm of amusement.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
By meaning 1
Origin
From Late Middle English paroxism, paroxisme (“period of worsening of a disease, attack; sFrom Late Middle English paroxism, paroxisme (“period of worsening of a disease, attack; sudden recurrent fever”), from Middle French paroxisme, paroxysme, and Old French peroxime (“period of worsening of a disease; bout of fever or illness”) (modern French paroxysme), and from their etymon Late Latin paroxismus, paroxysmus (“a fit; onset of a disease; violent impulse or sadness”), from Ancient Greek πᾰροξῠσμός (păroxŭsmós, “exasperation, irritation; severe fit of a disease”), from πᾰροξῡ́νω (păroxū́nō, “to irritate, provoke”) (from παρα- (para-, prefix meaning ‘parallel to but separate from or going beyond, beside’) + ὀξῡ́νω (oxū́nō, “to provoke; to sharpen”) (from ὀξῠ́ς (oxŭ́s, “sharp”), probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”))) + -μός (-mós, suffix forming abstract nouns). By surface analysis, para- + oxy- + -ism.
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Forms
plural: paroxysmsSynonyms
28 synonyms- a sudden uncontrollable attack:fitconvulsion
Word family
8 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable