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grievous. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
grievous, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
grievous in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
grievous you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English grevous, from Anglo-Norman grevous, from Old French grever, from Latin gravō (“I burden”). Developed in the 13th century. Equivalent to grief + -ous.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡɹiː.vəs/
- Rhymes: -iːvəs
- (nonstandard outside dialects) IPA(key): /ɡɹiː.viː.əs/ (often used in conjunction with the spelling grievious)
Adjective
grievous (comparative more grievous, superlative most grievous)
- Causing grief, pain, or sorrow.
1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Age and Youth”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. , volume I, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, page 14:No wonder that the old man's eye dwelt upon her with mingled pride and tenderness; yet was it a face that might cause affection many an anxious hour, for there was mind in the lofty and clear forehead, heart in the warm and flushed cheek,—and what are mind and heart to woman, but fairy gifts, for whose possession a grievous price will be exacted.
1943 May and June, “Notes and News: Centenary of Railway to Colchester”, in Railway Magazine, page 176:Heavy rain had so undermined the approach to the bridge at Mountnessing as to make it unsafe, and although Chelmsford and Colchester had decked themselves with flags and bunting, the train returned to London "with grievous disappointment to all."
- Serious, grave, dire, or dangerous.
1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “How My Sea Adventure Began”, in Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part V (My Sea Adventure), page 176:As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed, but not dangerous.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
causing grief, pain or sorrow
serious, grave, dire or dangerous
References
Anagrams