paroxysm

noun

par·ox·ysm ˈper-ək-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce paroxysm (audio)

ˈpa-rək-,

also

pə-ˈräk-

: a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease) : convulsion

a paroxysm of coughing

convulsed … in the paroxysms of an epileptic seizure

Thomas Hardy

: a sudden violent emotion or action : outburst

a paroxysm of rage

a paroxysm of laughter

paroxysmal

ˌper-ək-ˈsiz-məl How to pronounce paroxysm (audio)

ˌpa-rək-

also pə-ˌräk-

adjective

Did you know?

Paroxysm didn't just burst onto the scene recently; its roots go back to ancient Greek. The word ultimately derives from the Greek paroxynein, which means "to stimulate." Oxynein, a parent of paroxynein, means "to provoke" or "to sharpen" and comes from oxys, a Greek word for "sharp." (That root also underlies the word oxygen.) In its earliest known English uses in the 15th century, paroxysm denoted agitation or intensification of a disease or its symptoms. (A still-used example of that sense is "a paroxysm of coughing.") Additionally, paroxysm soon took on a broader sense referring to an outburst, especially a dramatic physical or emotional one.

Example Sentences

He went into paroxysms of laughter. a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall

Recent Examples on the Web When word got out last month that Angel’s Share might close after nearly 30 years, the city — or at least a very vocal slice that was devoted to artisanal cocktails — spun into a paroxysm of despair.

New York Times, 8 Apr. 2022 Much better, the patient exclaimed, but then exploded into a paroxysm of coughing.

New York Times, 16 Feb. 2022 The events themselves took a matter of minutes to unfold in a paroxysm of one-sided gunfire that snuffed out more than a dozen lives, each one of them a new martyr in Northern Ireland’s somber annals of loss.

Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Jan. 2022 The events themselves took a matter of minutes to unfold in a paroxysm of one-sided gunfire that snuffed out more than a dozen lives, each one of them a new martyr in Northern Ireland’s somber annals of loss.

New York Times, 29 Jan. 2022 If scientists can collect ash that was produced both prior to and during the paroxysm, the different chemical and textural features of both sets of particles will reveal the explosion’s trigger.

Robin Andrews, Wired, 20 Jan. 2022 As these images played to a global audience riveted by the drama at the airport, the West, in a paroxysm of regret, opened its arms to Afghan refugees.

New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021 Foreign leaders are wondering just how long the break from Trumpism will last and whether the nation that once stabilized the world will pitch it into a new paroxysm of populist nationalism if Trump is reelected in 2024.

Stephen Collinson, CNN, 1 Nov. 2021 This, in turn, touched off a paroxysm of media takes about whether such confrontations broke the bounds of civility.

Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 9 Oct. 2021 See More

单词	paroxysmal
释义	paroxysm noun par·ox·ysm ˈper-ək-ˌsi-zəm ˈpa-rək-, also pə-ˈräk- 1 : a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease) : convulsion a paroxysm of coughing convulsed … in the paroxysms of an epileptic seizure Thomas Hardy 2 : a sudden violent emotion or action : outburst a paroxysm of rage a paroxysm of laughter paroxysmal ˌper-ək-ˈsiz-məl ˌpa-rək- also pə-ˌräk- adjective Did you know? Paroxysm didn't just burst onto the scene recently; its roots go back to ancient Greek. The word ultimately derives from the Greek paroxynein, which means "to stimulate." Oxynein, a parent of paroxynein, means "to provoke" or "to sharpen" and comes from oxys, a Greek word for "sharp." (That root also underlies the word oxygen.) In its earliest known English uses in the 15th century, paroxysm denoted agitation or intensification of a disease or its symptoms. (A still-used example of that sense is "a paroxysm of coughing.") Additionally, paroxysm soon took on a broader sense referring to an outburst, especially a dramatic physical or emotional one. Synonyms agony blaze burst ebullition eruption explosion fit flare flare-up flash flush gale gush gust outburst spasm storm See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences He went into paroxysms of laughter. a paroxysm of laughter greeted the pratfall Recent Examples on the Web When word got out last month that Angel’s Share might close after nearly 30 years, the city — or at least a very vocal slice that was devoted to artisanal cocktails — spun into a paroxysm of despair. New York Times, 8 Apr. 2022 Much better, the patient exclaimed, but then exploded into a paroxysm of coughing. New York Times, 16 Feb. 2022 The events themselves took a matter of minutes to unfold in a paroxysm of one-sided gunfire that snuffed out more than a dozen lives, each one of them a new martyr in Northern Ireland’s somber annals of loss. Alan Cowell, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Jan. 2022 The events themselves took a matter of minutes to unfold in a paroxysm of one-sided gunfire that snuffed out more than a dozen lives, each one of them a new martyr in Northern Ireland’s somber annals of loss. New York Times, 29 Jan. 2022 If scientists can collect ash that was produced both prior to and during the paroxysm, the different chemical and textural features of both sets of particles will reveal the explosion’s trigger. Robin Andrews, Wired, 20 Jan. 2022 As these images played to a global audience riveted by the drama at the airport, the West, in a paroxysm of regret, opened its arms to Afghan refugees. New York Times, 10 Dec. 2021 Foreign leaders are wondering just how long the break from Trumpism will last and whether the nation that once stabilized the world will pitch it into a new paroxysm of populist nationalism if Trump is reelected in 2024. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 1 Nov. 2021 This, in turn, touched off a paroxysm of media takes about whether such confrontations broke the bounds of civility. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 9 Oct. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English paroxism, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxysmos, from paroxynein to stimulate, from para- + oxynein to provoke, from oxys sharp — more at oxygen First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Medical Definition paroxysm noun par·ox·ysm ˈpar-ək-ˌsiz-əm also pə-ˈräk- 1 : a sudden attack or spasm (as of a disease) 2 : a sudden recurrence of symptoms or an intensification of existing symptoms pain occurred in frequent paroxysms Therapeutic Notes paroxysmal adjective as in violent marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity paroxysmal mood swings that made being around him very challenging Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance violent ferocious turbulent fierce furious volcanic convulsive rabid vicious explosive rough cyclonic brutal tumultuous hot tempestuous aggressive savage stormy volatile barbarous knock-down-and-drag-out knock-down, drag-out blood-and-guts bang-bang hammer-and-tongs hostile destructive antagonistic belligerent combative contentious frantic pugnacious bellicose mad truculent frenzied agitated quarrelsome combustible assertive gladiatorial ruinous cataclysmic cataclysmal Antonyms & Near Antonyms peaceful peaceable nonviolent calm tranquil pacific serene nonbelligerent unaggressive halcyon See More
随便看	leukocytoses leukocytosis leukodermas leukodystrophies leukodystrophy leukolysin leukolytic leukomas leukons leukopenia leukopenias leukopenic leukoplakia leukoplakias leukoplakic leukoplasias leukopoieses leukopoiesis leukopoietic leukorrhea leukorrheal leukorrheas leukorrhoea leukoses leukosis

paroxysm

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

noun

adjective