Grand-mal

[gran mahl, -mal, grand; French grahn mal] /ˈgræn ˈmɑl, -ˈmæl, ˈgrænd; French grɑ̃ ˈmal/

noun, Pathology.
1.
See under .
[ep-uh-lep-see] /ˈɛp əˌlɛp si/
noun, Pathology.
1.
a disorder of the nervous system, characterized either by mild, episodic loss of attention or sleepiness (petit mal) or by severe convulsions with loss of consciousness (grand mal)
/ˈɛpɪˌlɛpsɪ/
noun
1.
a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by periodic loss of consciousness with or without convulsions. In some cases it is due to brain damage but in others the cause is unknown See also grand mal, petit mal
/ɡrɒn mæl; French ɡrɑ̃ mal/
noun
1.
a form of epilepsy characterized by loss of consciousness for up to five minutes and violent convulsions Compare petit mal

“convulsive epilepsy” (with loss of consciousness), 1842, from French grand mal, literally “great sickness” (see grand (adj.)). Opposed to petit mal “absence seizure.”
n.

1570s, from Middle French epilepsie (16c.), from Late Latin epilepsia, from Greek epilepsia “seizure,” from epi “upon” (see epi-) + lepsis “seizure,” from leps-, future stem of lambanein “take hold of, grasp” (see analemma).

Earlier was epilencie (late 14c.), from Middle French epilence, with form influenced by pestilence. The native name was falling sickness.

epilepsy ep·i·lep·sy (ěp’ə-lěp’sē)
n.
Any of various neurological disorders characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of motor, sensory, or psychic malfunction with or without loss of consciousness or convulsive seizures.

grand mal (grānd’ mäl’, māl’)
n.
A severe epilepsy characterized by seizures involving spasms and by the loss of consciousness. Also called generalized epilepsy, generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy, generalized tonic-clonic seizure, grand mal epilepsy, idiopathic epilepsy, major epilepsy.
epilepsy
(ěp’ə-lěp’sē)
Any of various neurological disorders characterized by recurrent seizures. Epilepsy is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
epilepsy [(ep-uh-lep-see)]

A disorder of the brain characterized by sudden, recurring attacks of abnormal brain function, often resulting in convulsions or seizures. The seizures associated with epilepsy can sometimes be controlled by medication.