PAROXYSM


Meaning of PAROXYSM in English

[ 'parəksɪz(ə)m ]

■ noun a sudden attack or violent expression of something: a ~ of weeping.

Derivatives

~al adjective

Origin

ME: from Fr. ~e , via med. L. from Gk paroxusmos , from paroxunein 'exasperate', from para- 'beyond' + oxunein 'sharpen'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.