Definitions:

1. Any sudden, violent outburst; a fit of violent action or emotion: paroxysms of rage.

2. Pathology. a severe attack or a sudden increase in intensity of a disease, usually recurring periodically.

Examples:

The crowd, delirious, cries and sobs in a paroxysm of despair.

Woman on Her Own, False Gods & The Red Robe Eugne Brieux

After a while the paroxysm of drunkenness is completely formed.

He did not recognise me for some time, but as soon as he did, he fell into a paroxysm half hysterical, half frantic.

Did you know:

"sudden attack, convulsion," early 15c., from Middle French paroxysme (16c.), earlier paroxime (13c.), from Medieval Latin paroxysmus "irritation, fit of a disease," from Greek paroxysmos "irritation, exasperation," from paroxynein "to irritate, goad, provoke," from para- "beyond" (see para- (1)) + oxynein "sharpen, goad," from oxys "sharp, pointed" (see acrid ). Non-medical sense first attested c.1600. Related: Paroxysmal.