grievous

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
  2. adjective causing or marked by grief or anguish
  3. adjective of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

dangerous, grave, serious, severe, life-threatening

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