grand mal

noun

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\ ˈgrän(d)-ˌmäl

, ˈgräⁿ-ˌmäl, -ˌmal; ˈgran(d)-ˌmal

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

Examples of grand mal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Since developing epilepsy after sustaining an injury in the military, Liana Ruppert has endured four grand mal seizures. — Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2020 Game Informer Associate Editor Liana Ruppert wrote yesterday about her experience with a grand mal seizure while playing a pre-release version of the game. — Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2020 The syndrome caused Figi to have as many as 300 grand mal seizures a week, putting her in a wheelchair, barely able to speak, and undergoing repeated cardiac arrests. — Audrey Mcnamara, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2020 The little girl who had 300 grand mal seizures a week went on to have only two or three a month. — Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, 8 Apr. 2020 The African lion fell in his enclosure and fractured his jaw after a grand mal seizure Sunday, zoo officials said Wednesday. — Scottie Andrew And Saeed Ahmed, CNN, 10 July 2019 In 2014 the couple married, but Cobain's alleged drug use only intensified over the years, leading up to a grand mal seizure later that year that nearly killed Cobain at the couple's home while Silva was there with his young daughter, Arlo. — Colin Stutz, Billboard, 31 May 2018 After mixing both, Brian said Sadie’s grand mal seizures with violent muscle contractions were reduced from 20 minutes to 10 minutes. — Julie Gallant, Ramona Sentinel, 18 May 2018 Each layer of this unusual family's history arrives via flickers of memory, and not all the layers are primly opaque: Rachel begins experiencing epilepsy's grand mal seizures. — Bethanne Patrick, latimes.com, 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grand mal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Grand mal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grand%20mal. Accessed 19 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for grand mal

grand mal

noun

\ ˈgrän(d)-ˌmäl

, ˈgräⁿ-ˌmäl

, -ˌmal; ˈgran(d)-ˌmal \

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