Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “paroxysm” come from?

Paroxysm comes from French paroxysme, from Ancient Greek παροξυσμός, derived from παρά meaning beside and a root meaning to sharpen or provoke.

paroxysm (English): A random or sudden outburst; An explosive event...

Definitions

  1. A random or sudden outburst; An explosive event...

Ancestry of “paroxysm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishparoxism—
2Middle Frenchparoxisme—
3Old Frenchperoxime—
4Ecclesiastical Latinparoxismus—
5Ancient Greekπᾰροξῠσμός—
6Ancient Greekπᾰροξῡ́νω—
7Ancient Greekπᾰρᾰ-near; next to; by, near
8Ancient Greekπαρά
9Latinverēdus—
10Gaulishwerēdoshorse
11Proto-Celtic*uɸoreidos—

Words derived from “paroxysm”

  • paroxysmal
  • paroxysmally
  • nonparoxysmal
  • paroxysmic
  • preparoxysmal
  • interparoxysmal
Every word from Proto-Celtic *uɸoreidos →