megrim: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Archaic-LiteraryLiterary, Archaic, Medical (historical)
Quick answer
What does “megrim” mean?
A severe, often disabling headache, typically affecting one side of the head (a migraine).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A severe, often disabling headache, typically affecting one side of the head (a migraine); also refers to a whim, fancy, or fanciful notion.
Historically, the term was used for a specific disease in horses causing dizziness; figuratively, it denotes a capricious or eccentric idea, or a state of low spirits or depression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in modern usage, as the word is equally rare in both varieties. The figurative sense may be slightly more attested in British literary sources.
Connotations
Connotes antiquated elegance, whimsy, or an old-fashioned turn of phrase. Using it in a medical context would be confusing.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Most contemporary encounters will be in historical texts or pastiches thereof.
Grammar
How to Use “megrim” in a Sentence
be seized by a megrimhave a megrimbe a mere megrimsuffer from megrimsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “megrim” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- It was not a serious proposal, merely a megrim of his restless mind.
- The old diaries spoke of her suffering from debilitating megrims.
American English
- He dismissed the radical plan as a presidential megrim unlikely to last the week.
- The novelist was prone to fits of melancholy she called 'the megrims'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical/medical literature discussing archaic terminology.
Everyday
Not used. Would be misunderstood.
Technical
Obsolete in veterinary/medical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “megrim”
- Using it to mean a modern medical condition.
- Assuming it is common or current vocabulary.
- Pronouncing it /ˈmɛɡrɪm/ (like 'megabyte').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but only historically. In contemporary English, using 'megrim' to mean a medical migraine would be confusing and incorrect. The modern word is exclusively 'migraine'.
No, it would sound affected, archaic, or pretentious. It is reserved for literary effect or historical reference.
An archaic phrase meaning low spirits, melancholy, or depression (the 'blues').
No. Etymologically, 'megrim' comes from Middle English 'migraine', via Old French from Latin 'hemicrania' (pain in half the head). The resemblance to 'grim' is coincidental but often used in mnemonics.
A severe, often disabling headache, typically affecting one side of the head (a migraine).
Megrim is usually literary, archaic, medical (historical) in register.
Megrim: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːɡrɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiɡrɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have a megrim”
- “to be in the megrims (archaic: to be depressed)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MEGRIM sounds like 'ME GRIMM' – imagine the Brothers Grimm telling you a fanciful, capricious (megrim) fairy tale.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WHIM IS A PAINFUL HEADACHE (e.g., 'He was struck by the megrim to sail around the world').
Practice
Quiz
In a modern literary context, what does 'megrim' most likely mean?