What is "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.

   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.

2. A sudden, violent, and temporary effort or emotion; as, a spasm of repentance.

   Cynic spasm (Med.) See under Cynic.

   Spasm of the chest. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.

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.

2. Pertaining to the Dog Star; as, the cynic, or Sothic, year; cynic cycle.

3. Belonging to the sect of philosophers called cynics; having the qualities of a cynic; pertaining to, or resembling, the doctrines of the cynics.

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.

   Note: In prose, cynical is used rather than cynic, in the senses 1 and 4.

   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.