paroxysm

 
Pronunciation: /ˈparəksɪz(ə)m/

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.