\PAIR-uhk-siz-uhm\, noun: 1 (Medicine) A sudden attack, intensification, or recurrence of a disease 2 Any sudden and violent emotion or action; an outburst; a fit
A paroxysm is a series of sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements that your body makes because you are coughing, laughing, or in great pain. He broke into a paroxysm of coughing. = spasm
[ 'par-&k-"si-z&m als ] (noun.) 15th century. French & Medieval Latin; French paroxysme, from Medieval Latin paroxysmus, from Greek paroxysmos, from paroxynein to stimulate, from para- + oxynein to provoke, from oxys sharp; more at OXYGEN.