[ad. L. convulsiōnem, n. of action f. convellĕre (see CONVULSE), or perh. immed. a. F. convulsion (Amyot, 16th c.). The medical sense was already used in L. by Pliny and the medical writers.]
† 1. The action of wrenching, or condition of being wrenched. Obs.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Wks. 1883–4, V. 297. The poore fellow so tyrannously handled [on the rack], would rather in that extremitie of conuulsion confesse hee crucified Iesus Christ.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 68. The crisping of the haire is as it were a kinde of convulsion.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1649. Those two massy pillars With horrible convulsion to and fro He tugged, he shook.
1825. Southey, T. Paraguay, II. 37. The lofty Tree … Uptorn with horrible convulsion dread.
† b. fig. A ‘wrench.’ Obs.
1685. Evelyn, Mrs. Godolphin, 90. The convulsion was soe sensible to them both that she was forced to give way to her importunities.
1688. Shadwell, Sqr. Alsatia, V. iii. Wks. (1720), 102. It is with some convulsions I am torn from you.
2. Path. † a. An involuntary contraction, stiffening, or ‘drawing up’ of a muscle, limb, etc.; cramp; tetanus. Obs.
1585. H. Lloyd, Treas. Health, Y viij. A convulsyon after the drynking of hellebore is deadly.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 260. Goe, charge my Goblins that they grinde their ioynts With dry Convultions, shorten vp their sinewes With aged Cramps.
1655. Culpepper, Riverius, I. v. 24. Spasmus, Cramp, or Convulsion, is an involuntary and continued retraction of the Nerves and Muscles.
1729. Arbuthnot, in Swift’s Lett. (1766), II. 101. I am now so bad of a constant convulsion in my heart.
1760–72. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), II. VII. vii. 90. The common or partial, and the malignant or arched convulsions … those … attacked by the latter sink under it in two or three days.
b. In modern use (usually pl.): An affection marked by involuntary contractions or spasms of the muscles, alternating with relaxation, and producing violent irregular motion and agitation of a limb or of the whole body.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 141. Who … fell straight way into a Convulsion and Epileptical fits.
1670. Eachard, Cont. Clergy, 46. It shall not … put you into a fit of a convulsion.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physic (1762), 36. One every hour till the Convulsions cease.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 532. Convulsion, as an idiopathic disease, has been considered as one of the most frequent to which children are subject.
1861. Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, 89. I knew a mother whose baby was in great danger one day from convulsions.
c. transf. Violent agitation of the animal frame.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. iii. 16. A twitching motion in one of it’s hind legs … the convulsion of death.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, IV. iv. 153. Her voice was choked with the convulsions of her passion.
1857. S. Osborn, Quedah, v. 63. The water was about three feet deep, and extremely muddy, rendered more so by the splashings and convulsions of the animal.
d. esp. (pl.) A violent fit of laughter.
1735. Pope, Ep. Arbuthnot, 87. Pit, Box, and gall’ry in convulsions hurl’d.
1822. Scott, Pirate, iv. This … set every one present into convulsions of laughter.
1854. Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Resources, Wks. (Bohn), III. 201. When the orator shakes him into convulsions of laughter.
3. Violent social or political agitation.
1643. Prynne, Rome’s Master-P. (ed. 2), 20. Councells … most meet for the convulsion of the Ecclesiastick, and politick estate of both Kingdoms.
1691. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 310. Great convulsions were feared in that state.
1769. Junius Lett., xi. 47. Wide is the distance between a riot of the populace and a convulsion of the whole kingdom.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 189. The Exclusion Bill had thrown the nation into convulsions.
1886. Morley, France 18th C., Crit. Misc. III. 288. If the convulsions of 1789–1794 were due to the revolutionary doctrine.
4. Violent physical disturbance; esp. said of an earthquake or similar phenomenon.
1703. Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 79. As if the Earth had here suffer’d some great convulsion.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., II. Earthquakes, volcanos, and convulsions.
1849. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sc., xxxviii. 456. The geological convulsions of our planet.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 187. If a single convulsion of this kind can thus raise such an amount of solid land.
5. Comb., as convulsion fit.
1657. S. W., Schism Dispach’t, 118. S. Peter’s Authority … begins suddenly to feel the cramp and conuulsion-fits.
1748. Hartley, Observ. Man, I. ii. 174. The Convulsion-Fits which happen to young children.
1890. Spectator, 7 June. The convulsion fits and triumphs of selfish self-will.
