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

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