— paroxysmal, paroxysmic , adj. — paroxysmally , adv.
/par"euhk siz'euhm/ , n.
1. any sudden, violent outburst; a fit of violent action or emotion: paroxysms of rage.
2. Pathol. a severe attack or a sudden increase in intensity of a disease, usually recurring periodically.
[ 1570-80; earlier paroxismos paroxysmós irritation, deriv. of paroxýnein to irritate. See PAR-, OXY- 1 , -ISM ]