fitful, spasmodic
(adjective) occurring in spells and often abruptly; “fitful bursts of energy”; “spasmodic rifle fire”
convulsive, spasmodic, spastic
(adjective) affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm; “convulsive motions”; “his body made a spasmodic jerk”; “spastic movements”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
spasmodic (comparative more spasmodic, superlative most spasmodic)
Of or relating to a spasm; resembling a sudden contraction of the muscles.
Convulsive; consisting of spasms.
Intermittent or fitful; occurring in abrupt bursts.
Synonyms: patchy, stop-start, Thesaurus:discontinuous
Erratic or unsustained.
Of or relating to the spasmodic poets, a group of British Victorian poets who wrote introspective drama in verse.
spasmodic (plural spasmodics)
A medicine for suppressing spasms.
Synonym: antispasmodic
Source: Wiktionary
Spas"mod"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. spasmotique.]
1. (Med.)
Definition: 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.
Spas*mod"ic, n. (Med.)
Definition: A medicine for spasm.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
12 January 2025
(noun) (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; “owls have nocturnal habits”; “she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair”; “long use had hardened him to it”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
