grand mal
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of grand mal
1875–80; < French: great ailment, epilepsy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Family friends told the MV Times that Forté had a seizure last year that required hospitalization and had been taking medicine since then to prevent a grand mal seizure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 14, 2026
Rosales suffers from grand mal seizures; her mother has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 18, 2023
At first, the neuropsychiatrist was "jarred" by the sight of a grand mal seizure.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2023
A week later Caldwell was asleep when he suffered a grand mal or tonic-clonic seizure; his body stiffened and his arms and legs shook uncontrollably.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2022
And another moral springs up of itself in this productive ground; for, you see, ... 'quand je m'efface il n'ya pas grand mal.'
From The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846 by Browning, Robert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
