tonic spasm
- See under spasm(def 1).
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Origin of tonic spasm
First recorded in 1825–35
spasm
[spaz-uh m]
- 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
See more synonyms for spasm on Thesaurus.com2. fit, storm, flash, spurt.
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
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for tonic 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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tonic spasm
- A continuous involuntary muscular contraction.entasia
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.