noun
paroxysm
PAIR-uk-siz-um/ˈpærəksɪzəm/
a sudden, intense fit or outburst
A paroxysm of coughing makes the man double over during his drink.
Etymology
“Beyond” and “sharpen” underlie a Greek verb meaning “irritate, goad, provoke.” Its noun for irritation came to denote a sudden fit of disease, then more broadly a violent outburst or emotional fit.
In context
'My wife and I are loth to trouble you. But the poor little thing has worked herself into a paroxysm of fright and is calling for you. We have tried in vain to comfort or reassure her.
More examples
- A paroxysm of coughing forces her to stop speaking.
- He smashes his phone in a paroxysm of rage.
- Paroxysms of grief overwhelm her whenever she hears that song.
Forms
paroxysm · paroxysms
paroxysmal adjective — Occurring in sudden, intense fits.