Nearby Words

gravamen

[gruh-vey-muhn] Origin

gra·va·men

[gruh-vey-muhn]
noun, plural -vam·i·na [-vam-uh-nuh] . Law.
1.
the part of an accusation that weighs most heavily against the accused; the substantial part of a charge or complaint.
2.
a grievance.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Late Latin: trouble, physical inconvenience, equivalent to Latin gravā(re) to load, weigh down (derivative of gravis heavy, burdened) + -men noun suffix
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Gravamen is always a great word to know.
So is prosecution. Does it mean:
the institution and carrying on of legal proceedings against a person; the body of officials by whom such proceedings are instituted and carried on
property or money given as surety that a person released from custody will return at an appointed time
Collins
World English Dictionary
gravamen (ɡrəˈveɪmɛn)
 
n , pl -vamina
1.  law that part of an accusation weighing most heavily against an accused
2.  law the substance or material grounds of a complaint
3.  a rare word for grievance
 
[C17: from Late Latin: trouble, from Latin gravāre to load, from gravis heavy; see grave²]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

gravamen
"grievance," 1647, from L.L. gravamen "trouble, physical inconvenience," from gravare "to burden, aggravate," from gravis "heavy" (see grave (adj.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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