convulsive laughter
1convulsive — adjective Date: 1615 1. a. constituting or producing a convulsion b. caused by or affected with convulsions 2. resembling a convulsion in being violent, sudden, frantic, or spasmodic < convulsive laughter > Synonyms: see fitful …
2laughter — n. 1) to cause, provoke laughter 2) contagious, infectious; convulsive; derisive; hearty, loud, raucous, uproarious; sardonic; subdued laughter 3) a burst, fit, gale; ripple of laughter 4) (misc.) to double up with laughter * * * [ lɑːftə]… …
3convulsive — convulse ► VERB 1) suffer convulsions. 2) (be convulsed) be caused by an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements. DERIVATIVES convulsive adjective convulsively adverb. ORIGIN Latin convellere pull …
4hold back — 1) PHR V ERG If you hold back or something holds you back, you hesitate before you do something because you are not sure whether it is the right thing to do. [V P] The administration had several reasons for holding back... [V n P] Melancholy and… …
5cachinnation — noun loud convulsive laughter • Derivationally related forms: ↑cachinnate • Hypernyms: ↑laugh, ↑laughter …
6sardonic — sardonically, adv. sardonicism, n. /sahr don ik/, adj. characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering: a sardonic grin. [1630 40; alter. of earlier sardonian (influenced by F sardonique) < L sardoni(us) ( < Gk sardónios… …
7The Other girl — Opening on 29 December 1903 at the Criterion Theatre, the comedy by Augustus Thomas, produced by Charles Frohman, ran for 160 performances. The New York Times review (30 December 1903) extolled the convulsive laughter provoked by its… …
8mirth — (n.) O.E. myrgð joy, pleasure, from P.Gmc. *murgitha (Cf. M.Du. merchte), noun of quality from *murgjo (see MERRY (Cf. merry); also see TH (Cf. th)). Mirthquake entertainment that excites convulsive laughter first attested 1928, in ref. to Harold …
9sardonic — sar•don•ic [[t]sɑrˈdɒn ɪk[/t]] adj. characterized by scornful derision or bitter irony; mocking; cynical: a sardonic grin[/ex] • Etymology: 1630–40; alter. of earlier sardonian (influenced by F sardonique) < L sardoni(us) (< Gk sardónios of …
10screaming — I noun 1. sharp piercing cry (Freq. 1) her screaming attracted the neighbors • Syn: ↑scream, ↑shriek, ↑shrieking, ↑screech, ↑screeching …