1. To shake or agitate violently: tremors that convulsed the countryside; when civil war convulsed the nation. See synonyms at agitate. 2. To affect with irregular and involuntary muscular contractions; throw into convulsions. 3. To cause to shake with laughter or strong emotion.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
To become affected by or as if by convulsions; shake.
ETYMOLOGY:
Latin convellere, convuls-, to pull violently : com-, intensive pref.; see com– + vellere, to pull.
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