gravamen Hear it!

gravamen definition

gra·va·men (grə vā′mən)

noun pl. gravamens -·mens or gravamina gra·vam′i·na (-vam′i nə)

  1. a grievance
  2. Law the essential part of a complaint or accusation

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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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