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   par·ox·ysm

   /ˈperəkˌsiz(ə)m/

   noun

   • 1. a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity: "a paroxysm of weeping"
   • ▪ a sudden recurrence or attack of a disease; a sudden worsening of symptoms: "paroxysms of ataxia and shaking"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from French paroxysme, via medieval Latin from Greek paroxusmos, from paroxunein ‘exasperate’, from para- ‘beyond’ + oxunein ‘sharpen’ (from oxus ‘sharp’).

   Derivatives

   • 1. paroxysmal adjective

   Scrabble Points: 22

   • P

     3

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • O

     1

   • X

     8

   • Y

     4

   • S

     1

   • M

     3

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