adj. [A. S., Engl., and Hel. grim; Dan. grim = ugly; in old Icel. writers this word implies the notion of ferocity, sternness, wrath, but not of wanton cruelty, and seldom of ugliness as in Engl., Dan., etc.]:—grim, stern, horrible, dire, sore; grimmt er fall frænda at telja, ‘tis grim to tell of a kinsman’s death, Stor. 10; grimt várumk hlið, a sore gap it was to me, 6; gráta grimmum tárum, to weep grim, bitter tears, Hkv. 2. 43; fimm grimmar nætr five grim, miserable nights, Korm. 184 (in a verse); grimm orð, lamentation, Gh. 1; hugðak mér grimt í svefni, I had a fearful dream, Bkv. 16.

2. stern, savage, Lat. ferox; hón var allra kvenna grimmust ok skaphörðust, Nj. 147; ákafa-maðr mikill í skapi, grimmr, úþýðr ok fátálr, Fms. i. 19; glaðmælt, undirhyggju-maðr mikill, ok hin grimmasta, 20; fyllask ens grimmasta hugar, to be filled with rage, 623. 25; g. híðbjörn, a grim bear, Grett. 100.

3. with dat. wroth; svá var hón orðin grimm Brjáni konungi, at …, she hated him so much, that …, Nj. 269; hence in poët. phrases, baugum, vellum grimmr, fé-grimmr, hodd-g., hating, wasting gold, munificent, Lex. Poët.: neut., með grimmü, grimly, Fms. ii. 9; gjalda e-t grimmu, to take grim revenge, 223.

II. metaph.,

1. with the notion of ugly, hideous; ljótt andlit ok grimmt ok andstygt mannligu kyni, Sks. 539, (rare.)

2. piercing, of cold; svá sem kalt stóð af Niflheimi ok allir hlutir grimmir, Edda 4.