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convulseto shake violently and uncontrollably, especially due to illness or strong emotion

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to shake violently and uncontrollably, especially due to illness or strong emotion

Pronunciation (IPA): /kənˈvʌls/

Example Sentences

  • The comedian's joke made the entire audience convulse with laughter.
  • The earthquake convulsed the city for thirty terrifying seconds.
  • My stomach convulsed after eating that mysterious street food.

convulse

VERB

[/kənˈvʌls/]

to shake violently and uncontrollably, especially due to illness or strong emotion

The patient began to convulse violently as the doctors rushed to stabilize him.
💡 Concept

The patient began to convulse violently as the doctors rushed to stabilize him.

Checking the pulse triggers an impulse as the body convulse!
🎵 Rhyme

Checking the pulse triggers an impulse as the body convulse!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kənˈvʌls/
🇬🇧 UK/kənˈvʌls/

🌳Etymology

Prefixcon--
Rootvuls

Origin

From Latin convulsus, the past participle of convellere, meaning 'to pull or tear violently.' The word combines con- (completely) with vellere (to pluck, pull, or tear), originally denoting the physical action of wrenching or tearing, which evolved to describe violent bodily movements or spasms.

Breakdown

con- (completely, thoroughly) + vuls- (from vellere: to pull, pluck, tear) + -e (Latin infinitive ending). The root vellere underwent sound change to vuls- in the past participle form convulsus.

🎵Rhyme

pulserepulseimpulse
pulse
repulse
impulse

🔗Collocations

convulse with laughter
convulse with pain
convulse society
convulse the nation
convulse violently
convulse uncontrollably

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The comedian's joke made the entire audience convulse with laughter.

The earthquake convulsed the city for thirty terrifying seconds.

😄 Fun example

My stomach convulsed after eating that mysterious street food.

The political scandal convulsed the nation just before the election.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

shaketrembleshudderspasmjerk

Antonyms

stabilizecalmsteady

Related

convulsionconvulsivepulseepilepsyseizure

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