paroxysm
noun/ˈpærəksɪzəm/
/ˈpærəksɪzəm/
- paroxysm of something a sudden strong feeling or expression of an emotion that cannot be controlled
- paroxysms of hate
- a paroxysm of laughter
- (medical) a sudden short attack of pain, causing physical shaking that cannot be controlled
Word Originlate Middle English: from French paroxysme, via medieval Latin from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein ‘exasperate’, from para- ‘beyond’ + oxunein ‘sharpen’ (from oxus ‘sharp’).
Check pronunciation:
paroxysm