singultus

/ˈsɪŋɡʌltəs/

Definitions

1. noun

a sudden, spasmodic, and usually involuntary closure of the glottis, resulting in a characteristic sound or pause in speech, often associated with epilepsy or other neurological disorders.

“The patient’s singultus caused her to pause mid-sentence several times during the interview.”

Synonyms

  • hiccup
  • spasm

Antonyms

  • fluency
  • smooth speech