a. (sb.). [ad. L. type *convulsīv-us (prob. in med. or mod.L. of medicine), f. convuls- ppl. stem + -IVE. Cf. mod.F. convulsif, -ive (not in Cotgr., 1611).]
1. Of the nature of convulsion; characterized or accompanied by convulsion.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 250. There is a threefold motion of the wombe, one altogether naturall, another altogether Symptomicall and Convulsiue.
1701. Rowe, Amb. Step-Moth., V. i. I cannot bear These fierce convulsive Starts.
1813. J. Thomson, Lect. Inflam., 277. Spasmodic or convulsive affections.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 397. The hand that trembled in his grasp Was crushed by his convulsive clasp.
1864. N. Syd. Soc. Year-Bk. for 1863, 94. On the Therapeutical value of Cod-liver Oil in Chronic Convulsive Diseases.
b. fig.: cf. CONVULSION 3.
a. 1797. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), V. 187. England has continued … to oppose the ambitious views of France; except during two short, critical, and convulsive intervals.
1835. I. Taylor, Spir. Despot., x. 421. To prevent convulsive and perilous reforms.
1869. Phillips, Vesuv., viii. 243. Earth-movements of the convulsive kind we call earthquakes.
2. Affected with convulsion (lit. and fig.).
1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, II. vii. 249. Subterraneous Streams issuing from an Hiatus of a convulsive Mountain.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IV. 952. Rolling convulsive on the floor.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., xviii. 142. Suddenly becoming convulsive and making an effort to tear her front off.
3. Productive of convulsion; tending to convulse.
1698. Dryden, Æneid, VI. 75.
| Convulsive Rage possess’d | |
| Her trembling limbs, and heav’d her lab’ring Breast. |
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. xxv. 760. His whole frame was agitated with convulsive passion.
1844. Stanley, Arnold (1858), I. vi. 233. Nothing so … convulsive to society, as the strain to keep things fixed.
† B. sb. A drug that causes ‘convulsion’ or contraction (see CONVULSION 2 a). Obs.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., II. s.v. Tumour, You must neither use Convulsives nor Repercusives.
