---
title: paroxysm — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «paroxysm» in the school dictionary: A sudden, strong burst of a feeling or action that you cannot control: «a paroxysm of laughter», «a paroxysm of rage». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# paroxysm

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, children, Toad, paroxysm, joke, Whooping · **What happens:** not control, burst, worsen, fall, fly, shake · **To what, where:** action, feeling, paroxysms, paroxysm, old man, She

<!-- .vabout -->
«paroxysm» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [paroxysm in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/paroxysm.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sudden, strong burst of a feeling or action that you cannot control: «a paroxysm of laughter», «a paroxysm of rage».

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paroxysm:m1:1
# text = A sudden, strong burst of a feeling or action that you cannot control: «a paroxysm of laughter», «a paroxysm of rage».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	burst	burst	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	feeling	feeling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	control	control	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	paroxysm	paroxysm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
20	of	of	ADP	IN	_	21	case	_	_
21	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
24	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
26	paroxysm	paroxysm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	parataxis	_	_
27	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
28	rage	rage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **control** | can | you | action *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn enforce-63 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent action=Theme |
| 2 | **burst** |  |  | a feeling or action |  |  |  |  | nom burst «act transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: medicine — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A sudden attack or worsening of an illness, such as a fit of coughing.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paroxysm:m2:1
# text = A sudden attack or worsening of an illness, such as a fit of coughing.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	sudden	sudden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	worsening	worsen	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	13	punct	_	_
10	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	13	case	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	10	fixed	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	fit	fit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	coughing	coughing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worsen** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | of a illness such a fit of coughing | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The children fell into paroxysms of laughter.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paroxysm:x1:1
# text = The children fell into paroxysms of laughter.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	children	child	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	paroxysms	paroxysm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	laughter	laughter	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fall** | past | the children |  |  |  |  | into paroxysms of laughter *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into paroxysm=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Toad flew into a paroxysm of rage.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paroxysm:x2:1
# text = Toad flew into a paroxysm of rage.
1	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	flew	fly	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	paroxysm	paroxysm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	rage	rage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fly** | past | Toad |  |  |  |  | into a paroxysm of rage *result* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.result»: agent=Theme into paroxysm=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A paroxysm of coughing shook the old man.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paroxysm:x3:1
# text = A paroxysm of coughing shook the old man.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	paroxysm	paroxysm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	coughing	coughing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
5	shook	shake	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	man	man	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shake** | past | a paroxysm of coughing | the old man |  |  |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent man=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was seized by a paroxysm of fear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paroxysm:x4:1
# text = She was seized by a paroxysm of fear.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	seized	seize	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	by	by	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	paroxysm	paroxysm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **seize** | past · passive | a paroxysm of fear | She |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The joke sent the class into paroxysms.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paroxysm:x5:1
# text = The joke sent the class into paroxysms.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	sent	send	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	paroxysms	paroxysm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **send** | past | the joke | the class |  | paroxysms |  |  | vn confine-92-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent class=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Whooping cough brings paroxysms of coughing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:paroxysm:x6:1
# text = Whooping cough brings paroxysms of coughing.
1	Whooping	whoop	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	csubj	_	_
2	cough	cough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
3	brings	bring	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	paroxysms	paroxysm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	coughing	coughing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **whoop** *speech: other* | gerund |  | cough |  |  |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cough=Topic |
| 2 | **bring** | present | Whooping | paroxysms of coughing |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3-1 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent paroxysm=Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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