petit mal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun epilepsy characterized by paroxysmal attacks of brief clouding of consciousness (and possibly other abnormalities)
    epilepsia minor; petit mal epilepsy.
    • she has been suffering from petit mal since childhood
  2. noun a seizure of short duration characterized by momentary unconsciousness and local muscle spasms or twitching
    epilepsia minor.
    • the girl was frightened by her first petit mal

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