# convulse

> English word · Verb · IPA /kənˈvʌls/

## Definitions
1. To suffer violent involuntary contractions of the muscles, causing one's body to contort.
2. To be beset by political or social upheaval.
3. To cause (someone) to suffer such contractions, especially as a result of making them laugh heartily.
4. To cause disruption to.

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

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/convulse