paroxysm
noun
[ ˈparəksɪz(ə)m ]
• a sudden attack or outburst of a particular emotion or activity.
• "a paroxysm of weeping"
Similar:
spasm,
attack,
fit,
burst,
bout,
convulsion,
seizure,
outburst,
outbreak,
eruption,
explosion,
flare-up,
access,
throes,
ebullition,
boutade,
Origin:
late Middle English: from French paroxysme, via medieval Latin from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein ‘exasperate’, from para- ‘beyond’ + oxunein ‘sharpen’ (from oxus ‘sharp’).
