Grievous
Adjective
Definition: Causing grief or pain; serious, dire, grave.
Synonyms: Grave, Serious, Severe, Painful, Distressing
Antonyms: Minor, Trivial, Insignificant, Light
Examples:
- The loss of a loved one is a grievous event.
- The country is facing grievous economic hardships.
Mnemonics:
- Think of the word "grief" and how it is often associated with deep sorrow and pain.
- Imagine someone experiencing severe grief.
Etymology:
Origin:
Middle English (in the sense 'full of sorrow, grievous'): from Old French grevous, based on Latin gravis 'heavy, severe'.
Historical Usage:The word has been used since Middle English with the same meaning, indicating the severity of something causing grief or pain.
Related Idioms:
Idiom:
"Grievous bodily harm"
Explanation:This phrase refers to a serious physical injury that causes significant pain or harm.
Misconceptions:
Misconception:
Confusing the spelling of "grievous" with "grevious" or "greivous".
Explanation:The correct spelling is "grievous" and not "grevious" or "greivous".