See Also: grim(medicine)
grim(1)(dictionary)
grim(2)(dictionary)
grim(dictionary)
Grim the Collier(dictionary)
Grim Reaper, the(dictionary)

grim(1) (iou)



grim adjective & adverb. Compar. & superl. -mm-.
[Old English grim = Old Frisian, Old Saxon (Dutch), Old High German grim (German grimm), Old Norse grimmr, from Germanic.]
A. adjective.
Orig., fierce, cruel, savage. Later, formidable, of fierce, frightening, or forbidding appearance or aspect. Formerly also, fiercely angry. OE.
the Grim Reaper: see REAPER 1.
J. Thomson Bony, and gaunt, and grim, Assembling wolves in raging troops descend. Dickens With a grim and ghastly stare.
b. Of a situation, scene, etc.: repellent, uninviting. ME.
J. Buchan Grey Yorkshire moors, grim at first sight.
Stern, unrelenting, merciless; resolute, uncompromising. OE.
like grim DEATH.
I. Murdoch Together, like a grim tribunal, they looked disapprovingly down upon their stepfather.
Extremely painful or unpleasant; severe, unremitting. Now passing into senses 1 and 2. OE.
W. Holtby The grim hand of poverty lay upon them. C. Chaplin The war was now grim Ruthless slaughter and destruction were rife over Europe.
Of a smile or laughter: mirthless. Of humour: dealing with a ghastly or painful subject. M17.
Sir W. Scott One of those grim smiles, of which it was impossible to say, whether it meant good or harm.
Dreadful, ominous, sinister. L19.
J. Brodsky The financial situation in our family was grim. B. Lopez The grim newsthree ships..were lost, crushed in the ice.
b. adverb. In a grim manner or mood. Now rare and only in comb., as grim-frowning, grim-set, etc. OE.
grimful adjective (long rare) full of grimness, fierce, terrible ME.
grimness noun OE.