different between convulsion vs conniption

English

Etymology

From Latin convulsi?, from convell?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?v?l??n/

Noun

convulsion (plural convulsions)

1. (medicine) An intense, paroxysmal, involuntary muscular contraction.
2. An uncontrolled fit, as of laughter; a paroxysm.
3. Violent turmoil.

   Earthquakes and convulsions of nature shake Earth on a regular basis.

   • 2013 June 18, Simon Romero, "Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders," New York Times (retrieved 21 June 2013):

     In a convulsion that has caught many in Brazil and beyond by surprise, waves of protesters denounced their leaders for dedicating so many resources to cultivating Brazil’s global image by building stadiums for international events, when basic services like education and health care remain woefully inadequate.

Related terms

Translations

French

Etymology

From Latin convulsi?, convulsi?nem.

Noun

convulsion f (plural convulsions)

1. convulsion

Interlingua

Noun

convulsion (plural convulsiones)

1. convulsion

Norman

Etymology

From Latin convulsi?, convulsi?nem.

Noun

convulsion f (plural convulsions)

1. (Jersey) convulsion

English

Etymology

Since 1833, from American English. Unknown origin, perhaps related to corruption or captious.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??n?p.??n/

Noun

conniption (plural conniptions)

1. (informal) A fit of anger or panic; conniption fit.
   • 2001, Slipknot, "My Plague", Iowa.

   When she came downstairs and saw what her children were eating, she had a conniption.

   ...threatened by the conniptions gripping Wall Street (Businessweek Oct.20, 2008)

2. A fit of laughing; convulsion.

   The joke was not that funny, but he went into conniptions laughing.

Synonyms

• (fit of anger or panic): see Thesaurus:tantrum

Translations