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   convulsion

   /kənˈvʌlʃn/

   noun

   • 1. a sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children: "toxic side effects like convulsions" Similar fitseizureparoxysmspasmattackmuscular contractionsthroestechnical:ictus
   • ▪ uncontrollable laughter: "the audience collapsed in convulsions" Similar fits of laughterparoxysms of laughtergales of laughterpeals of laughteruncontrollable laughterinformal:hystericsstitches
   • ▪ an earthquake or other violent or major movement of the earth's crust: "the violent convulsions of tectonic plates"
   • 2. a violent social or political upheaval: "the convulsions of 1939–45" Similar upheavaleruptionturmoilturbulencedisruptionagitationdisturbanceunrestdisorderfuroreupsettumultchaosearthquakecataclysmstormSturm und Drang

   Word Origin mid 16th century (originally in the sense ‘cramp, spasm’): from Latin convulsio(n-), from the verb convellere (see convulse).

   Scrabble Points: 15

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