paroxysm

Noun

paroxysm (countable and uncountable, plural paroxysms)

1. (countable) A period (especially one of several recurring periods) during the course of an illness when symptoms worsen; a sudden attack of a disease symptom, such as a bout of coughing or a seizure.
   • Againe; I feare a paroxiſme.1605 (first performance), Ben[jamin] Jonson, Ben: Ionson His Volpone or The Foxe, [London]: […] [George Eld] for Thomas Thorppe, published 1607, →OCLC, Act III, scene v, signature G3, recto
   • For, Sir, though Ireland is always combustible, Ireland is not always on fire. We must distinguish between the chronic complaints which are to be attributed to remote causes, and the acute attack which is brought on by recent imprudence. For though there is always a predisposition to disease in...1844 February 19 (date delivered), [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “[Speeches.] A Speech Delivered in the House of Commons on the 19th of February 1844.”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The...

   Synonyms:

   exacervation, fit

2. (broadly, countable) Chiefly followed by of: a sudden outburst of violent activity or feeling; also, the most severe part of an activity or incident; the climax.
   • [H]ere vve may take occaſion, to mention the miſerable condition of the Iſraelites in Egypt, during vvhich time, vvoefull their ſlavery, if vve conſider, the […] Long continuance thereof, tvvo hundred and odde years in the latitude, and fourſcore (from the birth of Moſes) in the Paroxyſme of their...1650, Thomas Fuller, “The Description of Egypt”, in A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the Confines thereof, with the History of the Old and New Testament Acted thereon, London: […] J. F. for John...
   • [I]n his Paroxyſms, as he vvalked the Streets, he vvould have his Pockets loaden vvith Stones, to pelt at the Signs.1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section XI. A Tale of a Tub.”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC, pages 203–204

   Synonyms:

   high point, acme, apex, zenith, apogee, apotheosis, ascendance, capstone, climax, coronation

3. (archaic, broadly, countable) An outburst of a violent argument or disagreement.
   • But the greateſt contention happening here, vvas that Paroxyſme betvvixt Paul and Barnabas, the one as earneſtly refuſing, as the other deſiring the company of John Mark to goe along vvith them.1650, Thomas Fuller, “[The Generall Description of Judea] The Description of Mount Libanus and the Adjacent Countreys”, in A Pisgah-sight of Palestine and the Confines thereof, with the History of...
   • By the vvay, it muſt not be forgotten, that in the very midſt of the Paroxiſme betvvixt [Richard] Hooker and [Walter] Travers, the latter ſtil bare (and none can challenge the other to the contrary) a reverend eſteem of his adverſary.1655, Thomas Fuller, “Section VII. To Mr. Hamond Ward, and Mr. Richard Fuller of London Merchants.”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book IX, page 217
4. (broadly, countable) A violent occurrence of a natural phenomenon, such as an earthquake, thunderstorm, or volcanic eruption; specifically (volcanology), the most explosive event during a series of volcanic eruptions.
   • [T]he Storm had ſeven Paroxyſms or Exacerbations, vvhich the Seamen call Frights of VVeather, […]a. 1692 (date written), Robert Boyle, “Title XV. Of the Motion of the Air, and of Winds.”, in The General History of the Air, […], London: […] Awnsham and John Churchill, […], published 1692, →OCLC...
   • [W]ith paroxiſms of ſtrange diſmay / Th' amazed Heav'ns ſtood ſtill, Earth's baſis ſhook, / The troubled Ocean roard, the ſtartled Air / In hollovv grones profoundly breath'd its fear.1702, Joseph Beaumont, “Canto VI. The Humiliation. Stanza 192.”, in Charles Beaumont, editor, Psyche, or Love’s Mystery, […], 2nd edition, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] University-Press, for...
5. (broadly, rare, uncountable) Disastrous or sudden change.
   • It is manifest that the species themselves are but transmutations of one or a few primordial types, and that they have been created not by paroxysm, but by evolution.1893, Alfred Williams Momerie, “The Philosophic and Moral Evidence for the Existence of God”, in John Henry Barrows, editor, The World’s Parliament of Religions: An Illustrated and Popular Story of...
   • Catastrophists argued that most geological change occurred in rare episodes of truly global paroxysm, marked by the "usual suspects" of volcanism, mountain building, earthquakes, and flooding.1999 April, Stephen Jay Gould, “[Charles] Lyell’s Pillars of Wisdom”, in Bruce Stutz, editor, Natural History, volume 108, number 3, New York, N.Y.: American Museum of Natural History, →ISSN, →OCLC...