Spasm

spazm, 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 , .— 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 expre ion. [Fr. spas me —L. spasm us —Gr. spasmos — spae in , to draw.]