Definition of grand mal
1 or grand mal epilepsy : severe epilepsy characterized by seizures in which there is an abrupt loss of consciousness with initially prolonged tonic muscle contractions followed by clonic muscle spasms
2 or grand mal seizure : a seizure marked by abrupt loss of consciousness with initially prolonged tonic muscle contractions followed by clonic muscle spasms
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Origin and Etymology of grand mal
French, literally, great illness
First Known Use: 1898
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of grand mal
1 or grand mal epilepsy : severe epilepsy characterized by tonic-clonic seizures : tonic-clonic epilepsy
2 or grand mal seizure : a tonic-clonic seizure She estimates having had about 25 grand mals and 100 smaller-scale seizures since.—Cicero A. Estrella, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Dec. 2001
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