1. A severe and sudden attack or an increase of symptoms of a disease, which usually happens periodically: Laurel's sister has proxysms of coughing because of having smoked cigarettes.
2. A sudden outburst of emotion or activity: Henry had a paroxysm of anger when the company's computer broke down right in the middle of his project at work.
3. Etymology: from Greek paroxysmos, from paroxunein, "to stimulate, to irritate"; from para, "intensive, beyond"; + oxunein, "to sharpen, to make acute" from oxys, "sharp, pointed". © ALL rights are reserved.

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