Final answer:
Paroxysmal refers to events or symptoms that start and stop suddenly, such as a coughing fit that comes on quickly and ends quickly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term paroxysmal is often used in the medical field to describe symptoms that start and stop suddenly. It is not necessarily life-threatening, premature, or prolonged, but rather it signifies an event that occurs abruptly and typically for a short period of time.
An example could be paroxysmal coughing, where coughing fits come on suddenly and then subside.