/ kənˈvʌls; NAmE / verb
1.
convulse (sb) (with sth) to cause a sudden shaking movement in sb's body; to make this movement :
[ vn ]
A violent shiver convulsed him.
[ v ]
His whole body convulsed.
2.
[ vn ] be convulsed with laughter, anger, etc. to be laughing so much, so angry, etc. that you cannot control your movements
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin convuls- pulled violently, wrenched, from the verb convellere , from con- together + vellere to pull.