gravamen C2+ Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives US /ɡrəˈveɪmən/ UK /ɡrəˈveɪmen/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun the essential or most serious part of a grievance or accusation The gravamen of the complaint was the company's deliberate deceit. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · the essential or most... essencegistcruxsubstanceburdengrievance Word family Related forms grievegrievancegrievousgravity Etymology AI details From Late Latin gravamen ('trouble, burden, grievance'), from Latin gravare ('to burden, weigh down'), from gravis ('heavy'). gravāmen Latin gravis Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # gravamen **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ɡrəˈveɪmən/ **IPA (UK):** /ɡrəˈveɪmen/ ## Meanings 1. the essential or most serious part of a grievance or accusation ## Examples - The gravamen of the complaint was the company's deliberate deceit. ## Synonyms - essence - gist - crux - substance - burden - grievance ## Related Forms - grieve - grievance - grievous - gravity ## Roots and Affixes - Root: gravāmen - Root: gravis ## Etymology From Late Latin gravamen ('trouble, burden, grievance'), from Latin gravare ('to burden, weigh down'), from gravis ('heavy'). ## AI Etymology Gravamen comes from Late Latin gravamen ('trouble, burden, grievance'), from Latin gravare ('to burden, weigh down'), from gravis ('heavy'). The etymological trail includes Latin gravāmen and Latin gravis. As a noun, gravamen names the essential or most serious part of a grievance or accusation. The same family is visible in related forms such as grieve, grievance, grievous, and gravity. ## Topics - Word Formation & Derivatives - General Vocabulary markdown