Also 5–7 spasme. [a. OF. spasme (F. spasme, = Prov. espasme, Sp. and Pg. espasmo, It. spasmo, spasimo), or ad. L. spasmus masc., spasma neut., a. Gr. σπασμός, σπάσμα, f. σπᾶν to draw, tug, etc. Cf. next and SPASMUS.]
1. Sudden and violent muscular contraction of a convulsive or painful character.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 160. Þanne it is greet drede of þe spasme & aftirward of deeþ,… þe akynge arisiþ vp to þe brayn, & þanne comeþ spasme.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 41. It cureth those who have their necks drawne backward to their shoulders with the Spasme.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 481. All maladies Of gastly Spasm, or racking torture.
1670. Covel, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakluyt Soc.), 140. He had very oft (almost every minute) a strange kind of spasme in the muscles of his breast.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. s.v., The spasm is a much less dangerous complaint than the convulsion.
1799. Med. Jrnl., I. 49. The first species of spasm in the stomach originates from extreme debility, relaxation, and atony in that organ.
1845. Budd, Dis. Liver, 382. Spasm of the gall-ducts is … something more than a mere hypothesis.
1876. Bristowe, Th. & Pract. Med. (1878), 479. Spasm of the larynx and trachea…. Spasm is chiefly known as causing contraction of the rima glottidis.
2. With a and pl. An instance of this; a convulsive twitch or throe.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 76 b. She fyll on the erthe al in a spasme and a swoune.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., III. 90 b/1. For the prohibition of a spasme ye shal rubbe often the nuke or marye of the backebone.
1601. Holland, Pliny, Expl. Wds. Art, Spasmes, be painefull crampes or pluckings of the sinewes and cords of the Muscles.
1652. Culpepper, Eng. Physic., 79. Such persons as have their bodies drawn together by some Spasme or Convulsion.
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Vocab., Spasms, cramps or convulsions of the nerves.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 112. Such Parts likewise draw the Fibres into Spasms, and keep them too tense.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., IV. xxi. Water is found, when not cold, to be a great resolver of spasms.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Obs., 178. He came again to the hospital complaining of spasms in his left arm.
1839. Dickens, Nickleby, iii. Newman’s face was curiously twisted as by a spasm.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, iv. The swollen form of the Emperor heaved with the spasm of a last struggle.
3. fig. Any sudden or convulsive movement of a violent character; a convulsion.
a. Of natural agencies or forces.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, IX. v. As with an earthquake’s spasm.
1860. Emerson, Cond. Life, Power, Wks. (Bohn), II. 334. Red republicanism, in the father, is a spasm of nature to engender an intolerable tyrant in the next age.
1909. Contemp. Rev., Feb., 156. Here is a problem that is more terrible than any spasm of Nature.
b. Of feeling, emotion, etc.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. V. ii. In utmost preternatural spasm of madness.
1860. Emerson, Cond. Life, Power, Wks. (Bohn), II. 340. So in human action, against the spasm of energy we offset the continuity of drill.
1874. Symonds, Sk. Italy & Greece (1898), I. x. 200. A mere spasm of suspicious jealousy.
1880. Meredith, Tragic Com. (1881), 294. He caused her a spasm of anguish.
c. Of political excitement, etc.
1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., VI. ix. (1872), II. 219. War in Italy, universal spasm of wrestle there.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xxvi. 437. The fears which the final spasm of rebellion had again provoked.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, lxvi. As for the succeeding Emperors, the spasm of their brief elevation was marked by universal horrors.
