adj.
Pronunciation: spaz- ' mä-dik
Function: adjective
Etymology: New Latin spasmodicus, from Greek spasm ō d ē s, from spasmos
Date: circa 1681
1 a : relating to or affected or characterized by spasm b : resembling a spasm especially in sudden violence <a spasmodic jerk>
2 : acting or proceeding fitfully : INTERMITTENT < spasmodic activity>
3 : subject to outbursts of emotional excitement : EXCITABLE
synonyms see FITFUL
– spas · mod · i · cal · ly \ -di-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb