spasmodic
pronunciation
How to pronounce spasmodic in British English:
UK [spæzˈmɒdɪk]
How to pronounce spasmodic in American English:
US [spæzˈmɑdɪk]
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- Adjective:
- affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
- occurring in spells and often abruptly
Word Origin
- spasmodic (adj.)
- 1680s, from French spasmodique, from Medieval Latin spasmodicus, from Greek spasmodes "of the nature of a spasm," from spasmos (see spasm) + -odes "like" (see -oid). Related: Spasmodically.
Example
- 1. My heart races in uneven spasmodic beats .
- 2. Spasmodic winking caused by the involuntary contraction of an eyelid muscle .
- 3. Then there is spasmodic state intervention .
- 4. A habitual spasmodic muscular movement or contraction , usually of the face or extremities .
- 5. She heard her own breath pass from loud evenness to spasmodic sobbing but her eyes were dry and burning as though there would never be tears in them again .