convulse
[ kuhn-vuhls ]
/ kənˈvʌls /
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verb (used with object), con·vulsed, con·vuls·ing.
to shake violently; agitate.
to cause to shake violently with laughter, anger, pain, etc.
to cause to suffer violent, spasmodic contractions of the muscles.
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Origin of convulse
First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere “to shatter, tear loose,” equivalent to con- intensive prefix + vul- (variant stem of vellere “to pull, tear”) + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix; see con-
OTHER WORDS FROM convulse
con·vuls·ed·ly, adverbcon·vuls·i·ble, adjectivecon·vuls·i·bil·i·ty, nounun·con·vulsed, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for convulse
British Dictionary definitions for convulse
convulse
/ (kənˈvʌls) /
verb
(tr) to shake or agitate violently
(tr) to cause (muscles) to undergo violent spasms or contractions
(intr often foll by with) informal to shake or be overcome (with violent emotion, esp laughter)
(tr) to disrupt the normal running of (a country, etc)student riots have convulsed India
Derived forms of convulse
convulsive, adjectiveconvulsively, adverbconvulsiveness, nounWord Origin for convulse
C17: from Latin convulsus, from convellere to tear up, from vellere to pluck, pull
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for convulse
convulse
[ kən-vŭls′ ]
v.
To affect or be affected with irregular and involuntary muscular contractions; throw or be thrown into convulsions.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.