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paroxysm

Pronunciation: /ˈparəksɪz(ə)m/

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Definition of paroxysm

noun

  • a sudden attack or outburst of a particular emotion or activity:a paroxysm of weeping
  • Medicine a sudden recurrence or attack of a disease: paroxysms of ataxia and shaking

Derivatives

paroxysmal

Pronunciation: /-ˈsɪzm(ə)l/

adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from French paroxysme, via medieval Latin from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein 'exasperate', from para- 'beyond' + oxunein 'sharpen' (from oxus 'sharp')

Spelling help

Remember that paroxysm ends with -ysm.

paroxysm in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of paroxysm in the US English dictionary

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