Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

gravamen

 - 4 dictionary results

gra⋅va⋅men

  [gruh-vey-muhn]
Use gravamen in a Sentence
–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; < LL: trouble, physical inconvenience, equiv. to L gravā(re) to load, weigh down (deriv. of gravis heavy, burdened) + -men n. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To gravamen
gra·va·men   (grə-vā'mən)   
n.   pl. gra·va·mens or gra·vam·i·na (-vām'ə-nə) Law
The part of a charge or an accusation that weighs most substantially against the accused.

[Medieval Latin gravāmen, injury, accusation, from Late Latin, encumbrance, obligation, from Latin gravāre, to burden, from gravis, heavy; see grave2.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: gra·va·men
Pronunciation: gr&-'vA-m&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin, from Late Latin, burden, from Latin gravare to burden, from gravis heavy, grave
: GIST
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see gravamen on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way