A grim shadow of a broad grin

A grim shadow of a broad grin

While working on the post about mean and moan, I decided to write something about groan, but I did not realize how far this word would take me. Gr– is one of the best-known sound-imitative (onomatopoeic) complexes. Greedy animals in fairy tales and disgruntled shopkeepers in novels say gr-gr. They grunt and growl. Grinding and the monster Grendel (from the Old English poem Beowulf) are not “far behind.” All is grist that comes to this mill, even perhaps groin, let alone great.