a. and sb. [ad. med. or mod.L. spasmodicus, f. Gr. σπασμώδης, f. σπασμός or σπάσμα: see SPASM. So F. spasmodique, It. spasmodico, Sp. and Pg. espasmodico.]
A. adj. 1. Of the nature of a spasm; characterized by spasms or convulsive twitches; marked by jerkiness or suddenness of muscular movement.
a. spec. in Path.
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Vocab., Spasmodic, belonging to the cramp or convulsion, or hauling of the sinews.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Hunger … is a Spasmodic Affection of the Fibres of the Stomach.
1786. Miss Clayton, in Corr. Mrs. Delany (1862), Ser. II. III. 415. Mrs. Clayton … is extremely ill with spasmodic convulsions on her lungs.
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 155. An attorney … was during several days afflicted … with spasmodic colics.
1811. A. T. Thomson, Lond. Disp. (1818), 101. The use of ipecacuan in spasmodic asthma.
1842. Combe, Digestion, 334. This actually happens in spasmodic cholera.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 591. Spasmodic stricture is usually met with in the young.
b. In general use.
1836–7. Dickens, Sk. Boz (1850), 199/1. He had, naturally, a somewhat spasmodic expression of countenance.
1851. Carpenter, Man. Phys. (ed. 2), 606. Sometimes … the spasmodic action occurs in the pronunciation of vowels, and continuous consonants.
1884. Marshall’s Tennis Cuts, 191. I was startled by his firing at me, as it were a series of spasmodic winks.
2. Employed against spasms; antispasmodic.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., Spasmodic, something belonging to a Spasma, or Convulsion; as a Spasmodic Medicine.
3. Occurring or proceeding by fits and starts; irregular, intermittent; not sustained or kept up.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. II. iii. But indeed may we not regret that such conflict … should usually be so spasmodic?
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), II. viii. 243. Half a century of acquiescence in disorder would be followed by a spasmodic severity.
1874. Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. vii. 199. The spasmodic efforts of the Northumbrian Danes were checked.
4. Convulsively furious or violent.
1840. Carlyle, Heroes (1858), 288. A noble strength, very different from spasmodic violence.
1866. R. W. Dale, Disc. Spec. Occasions, x. 334. They mistake spasmodic vehemence for strength.
5. Agitated, excited; emotional, high-strung; given to outbursts of excitement; characterized by a disjointed or unequal style of expression.
Spasmodic School, a name given by Prof. Aytoun to a group of poets chiefly represented by Alexander Smith, Philip James Bailey and Sydney Dobell.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, i. Miss Tox immediately became spasmodic.
1854. Aytoun, in Blackw. Mag., May 534/1. Let us see what is the practice of the poets of the Spasmodic School.
1865. Cornh. Mag., May, 640. We would … ask them if they would not desire to see their daughters brought up in a simpler, less spasmodic … and morbid way?
absol. 1861. Reade, Cloister & H., lxi. I would be prose laureat, or professor of the spasmodic, or something, in no time.
B. sb. † 1. pl. (See quot.) Obs.–0
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Spasmodicks, are Medicines against Convulsions.
2. pl. Spasmodic utterances or ejaculations.
1865. Sat. Rev., 11 Nov., 617. Mr. Porter’s heroics and spasmodics are only excusable on the supposition that they are intended for a class of readers … who rejoice in Watts’s Divine and Moral Songs.
