gravitas

grav·i·tas

noun \ˈgra-və-ˌtäs, -ˌtas\

Definition of GRAVITAS

: high seriousness (as in a person's bearing or in the treatment of a subject)

Examples of GRAVITAS

1. The new leader has an air of gravitas that commands respect.
2. a comic actress who lacks the gravitas for dramatic roles
3. The new leader has a certain gravitas.

Origin of GRAVITAS

Latin

First Known Use: 1869

Rhymes with GRAVITAS

biogas, biomass, bottled gas, cabin class, channel bass, cocktail glass, come to pass, demitasse, dressing glass, fiberglass, forward pass, gallowglass, Hallowmas, hippocras, isinglass, laughing gas, lemongrass, looking glass, Loveland Pass, lower-class, master class, middle-class, Montparnasse, opera glass, outlet pass, overclass, overpass, Plexiglas, Rogers Pass, ruby glass, safety glass, sassafras, second-class, shovel pass, solar mass, solemn mass, superclass, tourist class, underclass, underpass, upper-class, votive mass, water glass, weatherglass, working-class