Petit mal

//ˌpɛti ˈmal// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A form of epilepsy where the seizures are characterized as minor, the person becomes vacant or unaware, but not involving spasms and unconsciousness. These seizures are usually brief, lasting up to 30 seconds, and may include twitching. A formal medical term would be absence seizures. uncountable

    "Petit mal seizures are also known as absence seizures, which cause a loss of consciousness that is usually brief and barely noticeable. The neurons in a normal brain communicate by firing tiny electric signals."

  2. 2
    a seizure of short duration characterized by momentary unconsciousness and local muscle spasms or twitching wordnet
  3. 3
    epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (and possibly other abnormalities) wordnet

Etymology

Borrowed from French petit mal (literally “little illness”).

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