gravamen
[ gruh-vey-muh n ]
/ grəˈveɪ mən /
noun, plural gra·vam·i·na [gruh-vam-uh-nuh] /grəˈvæm ə nə/. Law.
the part of an accusation that weighs most heavily against the accused; the substantial part of a charge or complaint.
a grievance.
Origin of gravamen
1595–1605; < Late Latin: trouble, physical inconvenience, equivalent to Latin
gravā(re) to load, weigh down (derivative of
gravis heavy, burdened) +
-men noun suffix
Words nearby gravamen
graunch,
graupel,
graustark,
grav,
gravadlax,
gravamen,
grave,
grave clothes,
grave-wax,
graveclothes,
gravedigger
Example sentences from the Web for gravamen
British Dictionary definitions for gravamen
gravamen
/ (ɡrəˈveɪmɛn) /
noun plural -vamina (-ˈvæmɪnə)
law
that part of an accusation weighing most heavily against an accused
law
the substance or material grounds of a complaint
a rare word for grievance
Word Origin for gravamen
C17: from Late Latin: trouble, from Latin
gravāre to load, from
gravis heavy; see
grave ²