Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In pathology, headache on one side of the head; especially, megrim when confined to one side; also, megrim in any form.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Med.) A pain that affects only one side of the head.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun pathology A headache affecting one side of the head.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a severe recurring vascular headache; occurs more frequently in women than men

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Late Latin hemicrania ("pain in one half of the head"), from Ancient Greek ἡμικρᾱνίᾰ (hemikrania), from ἡμι- (hēmi-, "hemi-, half") + κρανίον (kranion, "skull") (from whence also cranium).

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Examples

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  • "'...it answers admirably in cases of insomnia, morbid anxiety, the pain of wounds, toothache, and head-ache, even hemicrania... Presently, with the blessing, you will see Padeen's face return to its usual benevolent mansuetude; and a few minutes later you will see him glide insensibly to the verge of an opiate coma. It is the most valuable member of the whole pharmacopoeia.'"

    --Patrick O'Brian, The Letter of Marque, 55

    February 27, 2008