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paroxysm
[ par-uhk-siz-uhm, puh-rok‐ ]
/ ˈpær əkˌsɪz əm, pəˈrɒk‐ /
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noun
any sudden, uncontrollable outburst; a fit of emotion or action: paroxysms of rage;a paroxysm of laughter;a paroxysm of coughing;The war unleashed a paroxysm of violence.
Pathology. a severe attack or a sudden increase in intensity of a disease, usually recurring periodically.
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Origin of paroxysm
OTHER WORDS FROM paroxysm
par·ox·ys·mal [par-uhk-siz-muhl, puh-rok‐] /ˌpær əkˈsɪz məl, pəˌrɒk‐/ par·ox·ys·mic [par-uhk-siz-mik, puh-rok‐] /ˌpær əkˈsɪz mɪk, pəˌrɒk‐/ adjectivehy·per·par·ox·ysm, nounWords nearby paroxysm
parotoid, parotta, -parous, Parousia, paroxetine, paroxysm, paroxysmal, paroxysmal tachycardia, paroxytone, parpen, parpend
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use paroxysm in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for paroxysm
paroxysm
/ (ˈpærəkˌsɪzəm) /
noun
an uncontrollable outbursta paroxysm of giggling
pathol
- a sudden attack or recurrence of a disease
- any fit or convulsion
Derived forms of paroxysm
paroxysmal or paroxysmic, adjectiveparoxysmally, adverbWord Origin for paroxysm
C17: via French from Medieval Latin paroxysmus annoyance, from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein to goad, from para- 1 (intensifier) + oxunein to sharpen, from oxus sharp
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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