GRAND MAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does grand mal mean? 

• GRAND MAL (noun)
  The noun GRAND MAL has 2 senses:

1. epilepsy in which the attacks involve loss of consciousness and tonic spasms of the musculature followed by generalized jerking

2. a seizure during which the patient becomes unconscious and has convulsions over the entire body

  Familiarity information: GRAND MAL used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GRAND MAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Epilepsy in which the attacks involve loss of consciousness and tonic spasms of the musculature followed by generalized jerking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

epilepsia major; generalized epilepsy; grand mal; grand mal epilepsy

Hypernyms ("grand mal" is a kind of...):

epilepsy (a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A seizure during which the patient becomes unconscious and has convulsions over the entire body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

epilepsia major; generalized seizure; grand mal

Hypernyms ("grand mal" is a kind of...):

epileptic seizure (convulsions accompanied by impaired consciousness)

 Context examples 

An anticonvulsant used to control grand mal and psychomotor or focal seizures.

(Carbamazepine, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)