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Webster 1913 Edition

Convulse

Con-vulse′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Convulsed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Convulsing
.]
[L.
convulsus
, p. p. of
convellere
to tear up, to shake;
con-
+
vellere
to pluck, pull.]
1.
To contract violently and irregulary, as the muscular parts of an animal body; to shake with irregular spasms, as in excessive laughter, or in agony from grief or pain.
With emotions which checked his voice and
convulsed
his powerful frame.
Macaulay.
2.
To agitate greatly; to shake violently.
Syn. – To agitate; disturb; shake; tear; rend.

Webster 1828 Edition

Convulse

CONVULSE

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to pull or pluck.]
1.
To draw or contract, as the muscular parts of an animal body; to affect by regular spasms; as, the whole frame may be convulsed in agony.
2.
To shake; to affect by violent irregular action.
Convulsing heaven and earth.

Definition 2024

convulse

convulse

See also: convulsé

English

Verb

convulse ‎(third-person singular simple present convulses, present participle convulsing, simple past and past participle convulsed)

  1. (transitive) To violently shake or agitate.
  2. (transitive) To create great laughter.

Translations

Related terms

External links

  • convulse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • convulse in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Italian

Adjective

convulse

  1. feminine plural of convulso

Latin

Participle

convulse

  1. vocative masculine singular of convulsus

Portuguese

Verb

convulse

  1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of convulsar
  2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of convulsar
  3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of convulsar
  4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of convulsar

Etymology

From Latin convulsus, past participle of convellere ‎(“to pluck up, dislocate, convulse”), from com- ‎(“together”) + vellere ‎(“to pluck, pull”)

For spelling, the -e (on -lse) is so the end is pronounced /ls/, rather than /lz/ as in gulls, and does not change the vowel (‘u’). Compare else, false, pulse.

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