1. A sudden outburst of emotion or action: a paroxysm of laughter.2a. A sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of a disease. b. A spasm or fit; a convulsion.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English paroxism, periodic attack of a disease, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxnein, to stimulate, irritate : para-, intensive pref.; see para–1 + oxnein, to goad, sharpen (from oxus, sharp; see ak- in Appendix I).
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nein, to stimulate, irritate : para-, intensive pref.; see para–1 + ox
