petit mal

[ pet-ee mahl, mal; French puh-tee mal ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Pathology.

petit mal

/ pəti mal; ˈpɛtɪ ˈmæl /

See grand mal
a mild form of epilepsy characterized by periods of impairment or loss of consciousness for up to 30 seconds Compare grand mal

1870–75; < French: literally, small illness

C19: French: little illness

How does petit mal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

The petit mal most commonly co-exists with the grand mal, but has no necessary connexion with it, as each may exist alone.

Attacks of petit mal might come on at any time, and were usually accompanied by a feeling of faintness and vertigo.

These cases are to be distributed between the developed form and the petit mal.

It is revealed also by symptoms of a less striking nature, which have been described under the name of petit mal.

A mild type of petit mal consists of a temporary blurring of consciousness, with muscular weakness.

April 17, 2024axolotl

[ak-suh-lot-l ]

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