clonic spasm
- See under spasm(def 1).
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Origin of clonic spasm
First recorded in 1840–50
spasm
[spaz-uhm]
- Pathology. a sudden, abnormal, involuntary muscular contraction, consisting of a continued muscular contraction (tonic spasm) or of a series of alternating muscular contractions and relaxations (clonic spasm).
- any sudden, brief spell of great energy, activity, feeling, etc.
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Origin of spasm
1350–1400; Middle English spasme < Latin spasmus < Greek spasmós convulsion, derivative of spân to draw a sword or cord, wrench (off), convulse
Synonyms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
spasm
- an involuntary muscular contraction, esp one resulting in cramp or convulsion
- a sudden burst of activity, emotion, etc
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin spasmus, from Greek spasmos a cramp, from span to tear
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for clonic spasm
spasm
n.
c.1400, from Old French spasme, from Latin spasmus "a spasm," from Greek spasmos "a spasm, convulsion," from span "draw up, tear away, contract violently, pull," from PIE *spe- "stretch." Figurative sense of "a sudden convulsion" (of emotion, politics, etc.) is attested from 1817.
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spasm
v.
1900, from spasm (n.). Related: Spasmed; spasming.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
spasm
(spăz′əm)- A sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.
- A muscle spasm.
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clonic spasm
- Alternate involuntary contraction and relaxation of a muscle.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.