spas ‧ mod ‧ ic /spæzˈmɒdɪk $ -ˈmɑː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Modern Latin ; Origin: spasmodicus , from Greek spasmos ; ⇨ ↑ spasm ]
1 . happening for short irregular periods, not continuously:
spasmodic machine gun fire
2 . formal or medical of or relating to a muscle spasm:
a spasmodic cough
—spasmodically /-kli/ adverb