gravamen

(grə vā′mən)

Origin: LL, lit., a burden, trouble < L gravare, to weigh down < gravis: see grave

See gravamen in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. gra·va·mens or gra·vam·i·na (-vămˈə-nə)
Law

The part of a charge or an accusation that weighs most substantially against the accused.

Origin:

Origin: Medieval Latin gravāmen, injury, accusation

Origin: , from Late Latin, encumbrance, obligation

Origin: , from Latin gravāre, to burden

Origin: , from gravis, heavy; see grave²

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