- A sudden outburst of emotion or action: a paroxysm of laughter.
- A sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of a disease.
- A spasm or fit; a convulsion.
[Middle English paroxism, periodic attack of a disease, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxūnein, to stimulate, irritate : para-, intensive pref.; see para-1 + oxūnein, to goad, sharpen (from oxus, sharp).]
paroxysmal par'ox·ys'mal (-ək-sĭz'məl) adj.paroxysmally par'ox·ys'mal·ly adv.





