In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
SPASM
spasm
(noun) (pathology) sudden constriction of a hollow organ (as a blood vessel)
spasm, cramp, muscle spasm
(noun) a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
spasm (plural spasms)
A sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ.
A violent, excruciating seizure of pain.
A sudden and temporary burst of energy, activity, or emotion.
Verb
spasm (third-person singular simple present spasms, present participle spasming, simple past and past participle spasmed)
To produce and undergo a spasm.
Anagrams
• samps, spams
Source: Wiktionary
Spasm, n. Etym: [F. spasme, L. spasmus, Gr. Span, v. t.]
1. (Med.)
Definition: An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or more muscles or muscular fibers.
Note: Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic. In clonic spasm, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic spasm, the contraction is steady and uniform, and continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.
2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance. Cynic spasm (Med.) See under Cynic.
– Spasm of the chest. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
24 December 2024
INTUITIVELY
(adverb) in an intuitive manner; “inventors seem to have chosen intuitively a combination of explosive and aggressive sounds as warning signals to be used on automobiles”
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