Spasm
['spæz(ə)m] or ['spæzəm]
Definition
(noun.) (pathology) sudden constriction of a hollow organ (as a blood vessel).
(noun.) a painful and involuntary muscular contraction.
Typed by Clarissa--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or more muscles or muscular fibers.
(v. t.) A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance.
Checker: Yale
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Twitch, sudden contraction (as of the muscles).[2]. Fit, paroxysm, throe.
Edited by Della
Definition
n. an irregular and violent contraction of muscular parts—involuntary even when the voluntary muscles are concerned. When persistent it is tonic spasm or cramp catalepsy tetanus; when the relaxations alternate with the contractions it is clonic spasm as in epilepsy convulsive hysteria chorea &c.—n. Spasmod′ic a medicine for removing spasms.—adjs. Spasmod′ic -al relating to or consisting in spasms: convulsive.—adv. Spasmod′ically in a spasmodic manner: in fits.—ns. Spas′modist; Spasmol′ogy scientific knowledge of spasms.—adj. Spas′tic relating to spasms spasmodic.—adv. Spas′tically.—n. Spastic′ity tendency to spasm.—Spasmodic school a group of English poets including P. J. Bailey Sydney Dobell and Alexander Smith marked by overstrained and unnatural sentiment and expression.
Typed by Elinor
Examples
- His handsome face was distorted with a spasm of despair, and his hands tore at his hair. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- That bloodless lip quivered to a temporary spasm. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- The spasm causes the muscles of the jaw to contract very quickly and as soon as they are contracted, they let the jaw fall again of its own weight. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- A spasm of anger and chagrin went over Ursula. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Suddenly a spasm shoots across her face and she turns deadly pale. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- As I spoke he gave my wrist a convulsive grip; the smile on his lips froze: apparently a spasm caught his breath. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- Finally, on the top corridor, which ran outside three untenanted bedrooms, he again was seized with a spasm of merriment. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- I am in deadly peril always, for these spasms are sudden and irregular, and of course I cannot tell when to be getting out of the way. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- The spasms were very bad: no wonder they frightened your maid; but she'll rally this time. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- Sometimes spasms of hatred came over him, against Birkin and Gudrun and that whole set. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Poor little thing, she's liable to spasms, and it's good for her to have her mind employed. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- There are two kinds of spasms, clonic and tonic. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Uttering these words, the good lady pointed, distractedly, to the cupboard, and underwent a convulsion from internal spasms. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- She has had spasms, as I anticipated, though I did not tell Miss Hale of my apprehensions. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
Typist: Margery