grim

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Worrying, unpleasant, and offering little hope.

   The doctor gave us the grim news quietly.

2. 2
   adj

   Looking serious and stern, often because of bad news or hard effort.

   His grim expression told us something was wrong.

3. 3
   adj

   Determined and unwilling to give up.

   With grim determination, she finished the race.

4. 4
   adj

   Very unpleasant or disgusting (informal).

   The kitchen was filthy; it was absolutely grim.

From Middle English grim, grym, greme, from Old English *grimu, *grimmu, grima, from Proto-Germanic *grimmį̄ (“anger, wrath”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrem- (“to resound, thunder, grumble, roar”). Cognate with Middle Dutch grimme, Middle High German grimme f (“anger”), modern German Grimm m.

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