Words / C2

PAR-uh-ksiz-uh-m/ˈpærəksɪzəm/

A paroxysm is a sudden, violent outburst of feeling or activity; also a sudden attack of a symptom: a paroxysm of rage, paroxysms of coughing. An outburst (already in the dictionary) is everyday a sudden explosion of feeling — the close twin. Acrimony (already in the dictionary) is bitter feeling in a dispute, of mood not of a spasm, and a conflagration (already in the dictionary) is a huge fire or outbreak of conflict. Corridor heat is not a numbered objection.

Meaning

A sudden, violent outburst of feeling or activity; also a sudden attack of a symptom.

Examples

• “A paroxysm of blame in the corridor is not a numbered objection.”
• “An outburst is a sudden explosion of feeling (already in B2). Acrimony is bitterness in a quarrel (already in C2). A conflagration is a huge destructive fire, or an outbreak of conflict (already in C2). A dated finding can still be calm. A spasm that never numbers the risk is theatre. Write the objection; leave the fit.”

Good to know

A sudden violent outburst. Everyday: outburst (already in this dictionary). Close: acrimony (mood — already in C2); conflagration (outbreak — already in C2). A spasm ≠ a minute.

Near in meaning

outburst, fit, spasm, convulsion

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