Spasmodically: meaning, definitions and examples
⚡
spasmodically
[ spazˈmɒdɪkli ]
infrequent actions
Spasmodically refers to occurring intermittently or in short bursts, similar to a spasm. This term can describe actions or occurrences that are not continuous but instead happen suddenly and briefly.
Synonyms
fitfully, intermittently, irregularly.
Examples of usage
- He breathed spasmodically after running a long distance.
- The machine operated spasmodically, causing delays.
- She laughed spasmodically, unable to control herself.
Translations
Translations of the word "spasmodically" in other languages:
🇵🇹 espasmódicamente
🇮🇳 स्पाज़्मोडिक तरीके से
🇩🇪 spasmodisch
🇮🇩 spasmodik
🇺🇦 спазматично
🇵🇱 spazmatycznie
🇯🇵 痙攣的に (けいれんてきに)
🇫🇷 spasmodiquement
🇪🇸 espasmódicamente
🇹🇷 spazmodik olarak
🇰🇷 경련적으로 (gyeongnyeonjeogeuro)
🇸🇦 بشكل تشنجي
🇨🇿 spazmodicky
🇸🇰 spazmodicky
🇨🇳 痉挛性地 (jīngluánxìng de)
🇸🇮 spazmodično
🇮🇸 spasmodískt
🇰🇿 спазмодикалық
🇬🇪 სპაზმატურად (spazmaturad)
🇦🇿 spazmodik olaraq
🇲🇽 espasmódicamente
Etymology
The word "spasmodically" derives from the adjective "spasmodic," which originated in the early 19th century. The term is rooted in the Greek word "spasmos," meaning a sudden involuntary contraction of muscles. This Greek root relates to the idea of sudden, involuntary, or irregular actions or movements, which is reflected in the adverbial form. The evolution of the word into English preserved its sense of irregularity and burst-like occurrences. Over time, it has been applied in various contexts, particularly in medical and physiological discussions, where it describes actions that resemble spasms, often highlighting their abruptness and unpredictability. Despite its more specialized origins, "spasmodically" has found use in everyday language as a descriptor for anything that happens in an irregular or intermittent manner.