spasmodic
[spaz-mod-ik]
- pertaining to or of the nature of a spasm; characterized by spasms.
- resembling a spasm or spasms; sudden but brief; sporadic: spasmodic efforts at reform.
- given to or characterized by bursts of excitement.
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Sometimes spas·mod·i·cal.
Origin of spasmodic
Synonyms
See more synonyms for spasmodic on Thesaurus.com2. occasional, intermittent, periodic, fleeting.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for antispasmodic
Historical Examples
The plant is narcotic, antispasmodic and like belladonna it dilates the pupil.
The Medicinal Plants of the PhilippinesT. H. Pardo de Tavera
Antispasmodic, emmenagogue, and tonic, and slightly aperient.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume IIArnold Cooley
These pills are stimulant, expectorant, antispasmodic, and emmenagogue.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume IIArnold Cooley
Antispasmodic, expectorant, and tonic, and in quantity emetic.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume IIArnold Cooley
The refined product is said to be antispasmodic, anodyne, and diaphoretic.
Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume IIArnold Cooley
antispasmodic
- preventing or arresting spasms, esp in smooth muscle
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- an antispasmodic drug
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spasmodic
rarely spasmodical
- taking place in sudden brief spells
- of or characterized by spasms
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Word Origin
C17: New Latin, from Greek spasmos spasm
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for antispasmodic
spasmodic
adj.
1681, from Medieval Latin spasmodicus, from Greek spasmodes "of the nature of a spasm," from spasmos (see spasm) + -odes "like."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
antispasmodic
(ăn′tē-spăz-mŏd′ĭk, ăn′tī-)- Preventing or relieving convulsions or spasms.
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- An antispasmodic agent.
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spasmodic
(spăz-mŏd′ĭk)- Relating to, affected by, or having the character of a spasm; convulsive.
- Happening intermittently; fitful.
- Given to sudden outbursts of energy or of feeling; excitable.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.