grim

grim
{{11}}grim (adj.) O.E. grimm "fierce, cruel, savage, dire, painful," from P.Gmc. *grimmaz (Cf. O.S., O.Fris., O.H.G., Ger. grimm, O.N. grimmr, Swed. grym "fierce, furious"), from PIE *ghrem- "angry," perhaps imitative of the sound of rumbling thunder (Cf. Gk. khremizein "to neigh," O.C.S. vuzgrimeti "to thunder," Rus. gremet' "thunder").
A weaker word now than once it was; sense of "dreary, gloomy" first recorded late 12c. It also had a verb form in Old English, grimman (class III strong verb; past tense gramm, p.p. grummen). Old English also had a noun, grima "goblin, specter," perhaps also a proper name or attribute-name of a god, hence its appearance as an element in place names.
Grim reaper as a figurative way to say "death" is attested by 1847 (the association of grim and death goes back at least to 17c.). A Middle English expression for "have recourse to harsh measures" was to wend the grim tooth (early 13c.).
{{12}}grim (n.) "spectre, bogey, haunting spirit," 1620s, from GRIM (Cf. grim) (adj.).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • grim — grim·ful; grim·i·ly; grim·i·ness; grim·ly; grim·mia; grim·mi·a·ce·ae; grim·mi·a·les; grim·mish; grim·ness; grim; grim·thorpe; pil·grim·er; pil·grim·ess; pil·grim·ize; me·grim; pil·grim; pil·grim·age; grim·mi·a·ceous; …   English syllables

  • Grim — may refer to:* Grim trigger, a strategy in Game Theory * Grim (Billy Mandy), a fictional character from the television series The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy * Grim, a Montenegrin rock group * Emanuel Grim, Polish priest and writer * Erik… …   Wikipedia

  • grim — [ grım ] adjective * ▸ 1 causing worry ▸ 2 serious and unfriendly ▸ 3 not attractive ▸ 4 not enjoyable ▸ 5 sick ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) grim news, situations, or events are unpleasant and make you feel upset and worried: The future looks pretty grim.… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • grim — [grım] adj [: Old English; Origin: grimm] 1.) making you feel worried or unhappy = ↑harsh ▪ the grim reality of rebuilding the shattered town ▪ When he lost his job, his future looked grim. ▪ Millions of Britons face the grim prospect (=something …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • grim´ly — grim «grihm», adjective, grim|mer, grim|mest. 1. without mercy; stern, harsh, or fierce: »grim, stormy weather. SYNONYM(S): cruel, merciless …   Useful english dictionary

  • Grim — (gr[i^]m), a. [Compar. {Grimmer} ( m[ e]r); superl. {Grimmest} ( m[e^]st).] [AS. grim; akin to G. grimm, equiv. to G. & D. grimmig, Dan. grim, grum, Sw. grym, Icel. grimmr, G. gram grief, as adj., hostile; cf. Gr. ?, a crushing sound, ? to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Grim — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Bobby Grim (1924–1995), US amerikanischer Rennfahrer Fred Grim (* 1965), niederländischer Fußballtorhüter Herman Niklas Grim (auch: Hermann Nicolaus Grimm, Hermannus Nicolaus Grimmius; 1641–1711),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • grim — 1 Grim, implacable, relentless, unrelenting, merciless grievanceare comparable when they mean so inexorable or obdurate as to repel or bar any effort to move one from one s purpose or course. Grim (see also GHASTLY) usually implies tenacity of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • grim — [grim] adj. grimmer, grimmest [ME < OE grimm, akin to Ger < IE base * ghrem , to make a loud sound, roar angrily > GRUMBLE, Russ grom, thunder] 1. fierce; cruel; savage 2. hard and unyielding; relentless; stern; resolute [grim courage] 3 …   English World dictionary

  • grim´i|ly — grim|y «GRY mee», adjective, grim|i|er, grim|i|est. covered with grime; very dirty: »grimy hands. SYNONYM(S): begrimed, black. –grim´i|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • grim|y — «GRY mee», adjective, grim|i|er, grim|i|est. covered with grime; very dirty: »grimy hands. SYNONYM(S): begrimed, black. –grim´i|ly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

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