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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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for grand mal
The first known use of grand mal was in 1833
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