Definition of grim

The original meaning of the Old English word "grīm" was related to the color gray or the dark aspect of the sky during a storm. It was also used to describe a harsh, severe, or threatening person. The word is derived from the Germanic root *grammaz, which initially meant "gray" or "hoary" in reference to old age. The Old English word "grīm" is closely related to other Germanic words, including Old Norse "grīmr," which also meant "gray" or "stern," and Middle Low German "grēm" or "grēmen," which referred to a storm or a threatening person. Over time, the meaning of "grim" in English evolved, with a particular emphasis on its connotations of hostility, violence, and cruelty. By the end of the Middle Ages, "grim" had become associated with the supernatural and the demonic, leading to the famous Grimm brothers' surname and their role in recording folktales of Germanic origins. Today, "grim" is most commonly used to describe a threatening or menacing appearance or demeanor. Its etymological roots remain evident in its connections to ghofre (Old English word for gray) and "grimace" (Middle English "grimen," meaning to make a face of anger or discontent). In summary, the word "grim" originated from Old English "grīm," describing a person or object which could appear hostile, ominous or dark.