Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “convulsion” come from?

Convulsion comes from Latin convulsio, derived from convello meaning to pull together, formed from the prefix con- and a root meaning to pull.

convulsion (English): An intense, paroxysmal, involuntary muscular...

Definitions

  1. An intense, paroxysmal, involuntary muscular...

Ancestry of “convulsion”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinconvulsiō—
2Latinconvulsusshattered, battered, convulsed; overthrown
3Latinconvellerethird-person plural perfect active indicative of...
4LatinconvelloI shatter, batter, convulse; I overthrow
5LatinvelloI pluck out; I depilate; I pull or tear down; I...
6Proto-Italicwelnō—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwelh₃-to hit, to strike

Words derived from “convulsion”

  • convulsionary
  • convulsionist
  • convulsional
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welh₃- →