migraine
UK[ˈmiːɡreɪn]US[ˈmaɪɡreɪn]
n
a severe, often one-sided headache, typically accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.
Etymology
the english word "migraine" was borrowed in the late 14th century from the old french "migraine," meaning a severe headache. the french term derived from the late latin "hemicrania," which itself came from the greek "hēmikrania," literally meaning "pain on one side of the head." this greek term is a compound of "hēmi-" (half) and "kranion" (skull). the evolution from the literal greek description of a unilateral headache to the modern english term, which retains this core characteristic while being a simplex loanword, illustrates a direct path of meaning preservation through language adoption.
Analysis
the word is a loanword from french and is not productively segmented using english morphemes.
Examples
she had to lie down in a dark room due to a debilitating migraine.
certain foods and stress are common triggers for his migraines.
the neurologist prescribed a new medication for chronic migraine sufferers.