Dictionary

grievous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈɡɹiː.vəs/
• (US) audio
• /ɡɹiː.viː.əs/ nonstandard outside dialects

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.

Meanings

1. Causing grief, pain, or sorrow.
   • 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. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Age and Youth”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 14:
   • 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." 1943 May and June, “Notes and News: Centenary of Railway to Colchester”, in Railway Magazine, page 176:
2. Serious, grave, dire, or dangerous.
   • As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed, but not dangerous. 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “How My Sea Adventure Began”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part V (My Sea Adventure), page 176:

Forms

Deriveds

grievously · grievousness · grievous bodily harm · overgrievous

Synonyms

precarious · grievous · solemn · sweer · austere · sad · frightful · atrabilious · woeful · depressing · saturnine · risky · dangersome · miserable · forbidding · sorrowful · distressing · atrabiliary · wicked · hot · somber · unhappy · sorrowful · stern · earnest · jeopardous · weighty · lachrymable · dangerous · sedate · rueful · sombre · woebegone · staid · solemncholy · upsetting · sad · perilous · lamentable · sombre · unsafe · demure · saddening · grave · hazardous · deplorable · mournful · grievous · sober · saddening · periculous · heartbreaking · serious · heartrending · parlous · lack-laughter · sage · weightsome · tragic · perilous · thoughtful · regrettable

Translations (25)

pl bolesny (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · bg сериозен (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · bg тежък (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · fo álvarsamur (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · ru печа́льный (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · nl pijnlijk (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · bg скръбен (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · pl poważny (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · fo álvarsligur (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · bg мъчителен (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · fr grave (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · grc λυπηρός (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · grc μογερός (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · de schmerzlich (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · ro dureros (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · bg печален (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · sv allvarlig (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · cmn 嚴重 /严重 (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · de schwerwiegend (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · ru тяжкий (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · sv allvarlig (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · ru мучи́тельный (causing grief, pain or sorrow) · de ernst (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · de ernsthaft (serious, grave, dire or dangerous) · yue 嚴重 /严重 (serious, grave, dire or dangerous)