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A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance. Cynic spasm (Med.) See under Cynic. -- Spasm of the chest. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.

Spasmodic. [Obs.]

Of or pertaining to spasm; consisting in spasm; occuring in, or characterized by, spasms; as, a spasmodic asthma.

Same as Spasmodic, a. -- Spas*mod"ic*al*ly, adv.

Good against spasms. -- n.

Continued pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain. "Such an ache in my bones." Shak.

Sung or played in a restless, hurried, and spasmodic manner.

ing contraction or tightening of the lower part of the chest; -- called also breast pang, spasm of the chest.

Counteracting spasms; antispasmodic. -- n.

plant (Ferula asafoetida) of Persia and the East India. It is used in medicine as an antispasmodic. [Written also assafoetida.]

A disease, characterized by difficulty of breathing (due to a spasmodic contraction of the bronchi), recurring at intervals, accompanied with a wheezing sound, a sense of constriction in the chest, a cough, and expectoration.

To issue with spasmodic force or noise. Dryden.

Broken fragments of ice. Kane. Water brash (Med.), an affection characterized by a spasmodic pain or hot sensation in the stomach with a rising of watery liquid into the mouth; pyrosis. -- Weaning brash (Med.), a severe form of diarrhea which sometimes attacks children just weaned.

other ingredients, highly celebrated in India as an antidote, and as a stomachic and antispasmodic.

Expelling wind from the body; warning; antispasmodic. "Carmenative hot seeds." Dunglison.

tween the anus and external genitals of the beaver; castor; -- used in medicine as an antispasmodic, and by perfumers.

The crowing noise made by children affected with spasm of the laryngeal muscles; false croup.

To have the windpipe stopped; to have a spasm of the throat, caused by stoppage or irritation of the windpipe; to be strangled.

A spasmodic trembling of the upper eyelid.

Having an irregular, convulsive motion. Dunglison. Clonic spasm. (Med.) See under Spasm.