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paroxysm

par·ox·ysm [ párrək sìzzəm ] (plural par·ox·ysms [ pə ròtti dtiss ])

noun

Definition:

1. sudden outburst of emotion: a sudden and uncontrollable expression of emotion

paroxysms of grief

2. outburst of symptom: a sudden onset or intensification of a pathological symptom or symptoms, especially when recurrent

[Late 16th century. < medieval Latin< Greek paroxunein "irritate," literally "sharpen beyond" < oxus "sharp"]

par·ox·ys·mal [ pàrrək sízm'l ] adjective

par·ox·ys·mal·ly adverb

par·ox·ys·mic [ pàrrək sízmik ] adjective

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