grievous
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English grevous, from Middle English greven, from Old French grever, from Latin gravō (“I burden”). Developed in the 13th century.
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /ɡɹiː.vəs/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -iːvəs
- (nonstandard outside dialects) IPA(key): /ɡɹiː.viː.əs/ (often used in conjunction with the spelling grievious)
Adjective[edit]
grievous (comparative more grievous, superlative most grievous)
- Causing grief, pain or sorrow.
- 1837, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, Ethel Churchill, volume 1, 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.
- 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
- As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed but not dangerous.
- Serious, grave, dire or dangerous.
Synonyms[edit]
- See also Thesaurus:lamentable
Translations[edit]
causing grief, pain or sorrow
serious, grave, dire or dangerous
Anagrams[edit]
Categories:
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʷreh₂-
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/iːvəs
- Rhymes:English/iːvəs/2 syllables
- English 3-syllable words
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with quotations