The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations.
Macaulay.
Syn. -- To agitate; disturb; shake; tear; rend.
Con*vul"sion (?), n. [L. convulsio: cf. F. convulsion.] 1. (Med.) An unnatural, violent, and unvoluntary contraction of the muscular parts of an animal body.
2. Any violent and irregular motion or agitation; a violent shaking; a tumult; a commotion.
Those two massy pillars,
With horrible convulsion, to and fro
He tugged, he shook, till down they came.
Milton.
Times of violence and convulsion.
Ames.
Syn. -- Agitation; commotion; tumult; disturbance.
Con*vul"sion*al (?), a. Pertaining to, or having, convulsions; convulsionary. [R.] Lamb.
Con*vul"sion*a*ry (&?;), a. [Cf. F. convulsionnaire.] Pertaining to convulsion; convulsive. "Convulsionary struggles." Sir W. Scott.
Con*vul"sion*a*ry, n. A convulsionist.
Con*vul"sion*ist, n. One who has convulsions; esp., one of a body of fanatics in France, early in the eighteenth century, who went into convulsions under the influence of religious emotion; as, the Convulsionists of St. MÚdard.
Con*vul"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. convulsif.] Producing, or attended with, convulsions or spasms; characterized by convulsions; convulsionary.
An irregular, convulsive movement may be necessary to throw off an irregular, convulsive disease.
Burke.
Con*vul"sive*ly, adv. in a convulsive manner.
Co"ny (? or ?; 277), n. [OE. coning, conig, coni, OF. connin, conin, connil, fr. L. cuniculus a rabbit, cony, prob. an Hispanic word.] [Written also coney.] 1. (Zo÷l.) (a) A rabbit, esp., the European rabbit (Lepus cuniculus). (b) The chief hare.
&fist; The cony of Scripture is thought to be Hyrax Syriacus, called also daman, and cherogril. See Daman.