spasmodicallyadv.
/spazˈmɒdɪkəli/ 1. Pathology. By means of, with the accompaniment of, a spasm or spasms.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > diseases of tissue > disorders affecting muscles > [adverb] > with spasms or cramps
spasmodically1710
spastically1862
1710 T. Fuller Pharmacopœia Extemporanea 251 The use of this [sc. julep] is indicated..when the Spirits..are spasmodically exploded.
1764 Philos. Trans. 1763 (Royal Soc.) 53 11 The Temporal and Masseter muscles..were tense, hard, and spasmodically affected.
1814 J. Burns Princ. Midwifery (ed. 3) 391 The uterus may contract spasmodically.
1879 St. George's Hosp. Rep. 9 683 On attempting to take fluids, they..were..spasmodically rejected.
2.
a. In a jerky or sudden manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > sudden movement > [adverb] > spasmodically
hickingly1607
spasmodically1839
galvanically1849
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xl. 394 Poor Noggs..moved spasmodically in his chair.
1864 F. W. Robinson Mattie III. 114 Causing innumerable articles in the glass cases thereon to jump spasmodically with the shock.
b. With convulsive effort or violence.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [adverb] > convulsively
convulsively1796
spasmodically1841
convulsedly1903
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adverb] > with convulsive violence
convulsively1796
spasmodically1841
1841 T. Carlyle On Heroes iv. 198 A human soul is seen clinging spasmodically to an Ark of the Covenant.
1851 T. De Quincey Ld. Carlisle on Pope in Tait's Edinb. Mag. May 311/2 Pope obeyed, spasmodically, an overmastering febrile paroxysm.
1880 F. Marryat Fair-haired Alda II. i. 23 She clung to him spasmodically.
3. By fits and starts; irregularly, intermittently.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > frequency > infrequency > [adverb] > intermittently
by (formerly also at) startsc1422
startmeal?c1422
off and on1535
every otherwhile1542
by, or in, snatches1577
by fits and turns1583
by halves and fits1583
one time with another1591
fit-meal1593
by fits and spurts1605
planetarily?1609
scatteredly1612
startinglya1616
by snaps1631
intermittingly1654
from space to space1658
on and off1668
at (by) intervals1744
cessantly1746
by spells1788
fitfully1792
by fits and spasms1797
everylikea1800
intermittently1800
intermittedly1829
interjectionally1837
jerkily1839
at seasons1850
sporadically1852
parenthetically1860
spasmodically1877
snatchily1880
variously1892
1877 T. H. Huxley Physiography xii. 190 The steam generally issues spasmodically.
1882 Standard 30 Dec. 2/2 If rates went up for a few days they did so spasmodically.
1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 599 The men then gradually go off to sleep, breaking out now and again spasmodically into little rows over a pipe.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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adv.1710