cynic spasm

Spasm \Spasm\, n. [F. spasme, L. spasmus, Gr. ?, from ?, ?, to
   draw, to cause convulsion. Cf. {Span}, v. t.]
   1. (Med.) An involuntary and unnatural contraction of one or
      more muscles or muscular fibers.
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   Note: Spasm are usually either clonic or tonic. In clonic
         spasm, the muscles or muscular fibers contract and
         relax alternately in very quick succession. In tonic
         spasm, the contraction is steady and uniform, and
         continues for a comparatively long time, as in tetanus.
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   2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a
      spasm of repentance.
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   {Cynic spasm} (Med.) See under {Cynic}.

   {Spasm of the chest}. See {Angina pectoris}, under {Angina}.
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Cynic \Cyn"ic\ (s[i^]n"[i^]k), Cynical \Cyn"ic*al\ (-[i^]*kal),
   a. [L. cynicus of the sect of Cynics, fr. Gr. kyniko`s,
   prop., dog-like, fr. ky`wn, kyno`s, dog. See {Hound}.]
   1. Having the qualities of a surly dog; snarling; captious;
      currish.

            I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess
            obligations where no benefit has been received.
                                                  --Johnson.
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   2. Pertaining to the Dog Star; as, the cynic, or Sothic,
      year; cynic cycle.
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   3. Belonging to the sect of philosophers called cynics;
      having the qualities of a cynic; pertaining to, or
      resembling, the doctrines of the cynics.
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   4. Given to sneering at rectitude and the conduct of life by
      moral principles; believing the worst of human nature and
      motives; disbelieving in the reality of any human purposes
      which are not suggested or directed by self-interest or
      self-indulgence; having a sneering disbelief in the
      selflessness of others; as, a cynical man who scoffs at
      pretensions of integrity; characterized by such opinions;
      as, cynical views of human nature.

   Syn: misanthropic, misanthropical.
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   Note: In prose, cynical is used rather than cynic, in the
         senses 1 and 4.
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   {Cynic spasm} (Med.), a convulsive contraction of the muscles
      of one side of the face, producing a sort of grin,
      suggesting certain movements in the upper lip of a dog.
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