Hypertext Webster Gateway: "spasmodic"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Spasmodic \Spas*mod"ic\, n. (Med.)
A medicine for spasm.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Spasmodic \Spas"mod"ic\, a. [Gr. ?; ? a convulsion + ? likeness:
cf. F. spasmotique.]
1. (Med.) Of or pertaining to spasm; consisting in spasm;
occuring in, or characterized by, spasms; as, a spasmodic
asthma.
2. Soon relaxed or exhausted; convulsive; intermittent; as,
spasmodic zeal or industry.
{Spasmodic croup} (Med.), an affection of childhood
characterized by a stoppage of brathing developed suddenly
and without fever, and produced by spasmodic contraction
of the vocal cords. It is sometimes fatal. Called also
{laryngismus stridulus}, and {childcrowing}.
{Spasmodic stricture}, a stricture caused by muscular spasm
without structural change. See {Organic stricture}, under
{Organic}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
spasmodic
adj 1: affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions;
resembling a spasm; "convulsive motions"; "his body
made a spasmodic jerk"; "spastic movements" [syn: {convulsive},
{spastic}]
2: occurring in spells and often abruptly; "fitful bursts of
energy"; "spasmodic rifle fire" [syn: {fitful}]
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