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