grievous
/ˈɡɹiː.vəs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.18 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "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.""
- "As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed, but not dangerous."
Etymology
From Middle English grevous, from Anglo-Norman grevous, from Old French grever, from Latin gravō (“to burden”). Developed in the 13th century. Equivalent to grief + -ous.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Inflected Forms
more grievous (comparative)
most grievous (superlative)
greuous (alternative)
greevous (alternative)
gravious (alternative)
grievious (alternative)
grevious (alternative)