spasm

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spasm sudden or violent muscular contraction. XIV. — (O)F. spasme or L. spasmus, spasma — Gr. spasmǒs, spásma, f. spân draw, pull.
So spasmodic marked by spasms or twitches XVII; intermittent XIX. — modL. spasmōdicus, f. Gr. spasmṓdēs. spastic marked by spasmodic symptoms. XVIII. — L. spasticus — Gr. spastikṓs.

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