In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
CONVULSION
convulsion
(noun) a physical disturbance such as an earthquake or upheaval
convulsion, turmoil, upheaval
(noun) a violent disturbance; “the convulsions of the stock market”
convulsion
(noun) violent uncontrollable contractions of muscles
paroxysm, fit, convulsion
(noun) a sudden uncontrollable attack; “a paroxysm of giggling”; “a fit of coughing”; “convulsions of laughter”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
convulsion (plural convulsions)
(medicine) An intense, paroxysmal, involuntary muscular contraction.
An uncontrolled fit, as of laughter; a paroxysm.
Violent turmoil.
Source: Wiktionary
Con*vul"sion, n. Etym: [L. convulsio: cf. F. convulsion.]
1. (Med.)
Definition: An unnatural, violent, and unvoluntary contraction of the muscular parts of an animal body.
2. Any violent and irregular motion or agitation; a violent shaking; a tumult; a commotion. Those two massy pillars, With horrible convulsion, to and fro He tugged, he shook, till down they came. Milton. Times of violence and convulsion. Ames.
Syn.
– Agitation; commotion; tumult; disturbance.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
10 June 2025
COMMUNICATIONS
(noun) the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.); “communications is his major field of study”
Coffee Trivia
