gravamen

noun

gra·va·men | \grə-ˈvā-mən

\

plural gravamens or gravamina\grə-ˈva-mə-nə

\

Definition of gravamen

: the material or significant part of a grievance or complaint

Did You Know?

Gravamen is not a word you hear every day, but it does show up occasionally in modern-day publications. It comes from the Latin verb gravare, meaning "to burden," and ultimately from the Latin adjective gravis, meaning "heavy." Fittingly, "gravamen" refers to the part of a grievance or complaint that gives it weight or substance. In legal contexts, "gravamen" is used, synonymously with "gist," to refer to the grounds on which a legal action is sustainable. "Gravis" has given English several other weighty words, including "gravity," "grieve," and the adjective grave, meaning "important" or "serious."

History and Etymology for gravamen

Late Latin, burden, from Latin gravare to burden, from gravis

Medieval Latin, from Late Latin, burden, from Latin gravare to burden, from gravis heavy, grave

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Dictionary Entries near gravamen

Grau San Martín

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Time Traveler for gravamen

The first known use of gravamen was in 1602

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gravamen

noun

gra·va·men | \grə-ˈvā-mən

\

Legal Definition of gravamen

WORD OF THE DAY

acceptation

a generally accepted meaning of a word

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