from
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
convulsive
adj 1: affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions;
resembling a spasm; "convulsive motions"; "his body made
a spasmodic jerk"; "spastic movements" [syn:
{convulsive}, {spasmodic}, {spastic}]
2: resembling a convulsion in being sudden and violent; "a
convulsive rage"; "convulsive laughter"
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Convulsive \Con*vul"sive\, a. [Cf. F. convulsif.]
Producing, or attended with, convulsions or spasms;
characterized by convulsions; convulsionary.
[1913 Webster]
An irregular, convulsive movement may be necessary to
throw off an irregular, convulsive disease. --Burke.
[1913 Webster]