Paroxysm

Pronunciation: /ˈpærəksɪzəm/

Definitions of paroxysm

noun a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity

Example Sentences

A1 She had a paroxysm of laughter when she saw the puppy chasing its tail.

A2 The child's paroxysm of anger subsided once he was given his favorite toy.

B1 The sudden paroxysm of pain in her stomach made her double over in agony.

B2 The orchestra's performance was so intense that it caused a paroxysm of emotions in the audience.

C1 The political debate led to a paroxysm of conflicting opinions among the audience.

C2 The novel's climax brought about a paroxysm of suspense that left readers on the edge of their seats.

Examples of paroxysm in a Sentence

formal The patient experienced a paroxysm of pain before the medication took effect.

informal She had a sudden paroxysm of laughter during the movie.

slang I nearly had a paroxysm when I saw how much the concert tickets cost.

figurative The city was in a paroxysm of excitement as they awaited the championship game.

Grammatical Forms of paroxysm

• past tense: paroxysmed
• plural: paroxysms
• comparative: more paroxysmal
• superlative: most paroxysmal
• present tense: paroxysms
• future tense: will paroxysm
• perfect tense: have paroxysmed
• continuous tense: is paroxysming
• singular: paroxysm
• positive degree: paroxysmal
• infinitive: to paroxysm
• gerund: paroxysming
• participle: paroxysmed

Origin and Evolution of paroxysm

First Known Use: 1400 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'paroxysm' originated from the Greek word 'paroxusmos', meaning irritation or incitement.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'paroxysm' expanded to refer to a sudden outburst of emotion or action, typically a violent or intense one. It is now commonly used in medical contexts to describe a sudden recurrence or intensification of symptoms in a disease.