paroxysm
pronunciation
How to pronounce paroxysm in British English:
UK [ˈpærəksɪzəm]
How to pronounce paroxysm in American English:
US [ˈpærəkˌsɪzəm]
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- Noun:
- a sudden uncontrollable attack
Word Origin
- paroxysm (n.)
- "sudden attack, convulsion," early 15c., from Middle French paroxysme (16c.), earlier paroxime (13c.), from Medieval Latin paroxysmus "irritation, fit of a disease," from Greek paroxysmos "irritation, exasperation," from paroxynein "to irritate, goad, provoke," from para- "beyond" (see para- (1)) + oxynein "sharpen, goad," from oxys "sharp, pointed" (see acrid). Non-medical sense first attested c. 1600. Related: Paroxysmal.