grievous

Everyday

1. (formal) Very serious and harmful: a grievous mistake. tree →
2. (formal) Causing great sadness or pain: a grievous loss. tree →
3. (law, UK) «Grievous bodily harm» (GBH) is a serious crime of badly hurting someone. tree →

In the lessons

In history, Bible and old stories it marks serious wrongs, sins and losses. In UK news and law, GBH is a serious assault. In everyday speech it is rare and sounds formal or old-fashioned. Phrases: a grievous error, grievous loss, grievous bodily harm.

Examples

• The general made a grievous mistake and lost the battle. tree →
• The death of the queen was a grievous loss to the country. tree →
• The man was charged with grievous bodily harm. tree →
• «I have sinned grievously,» said the knight in the story. tree →
• A grievous wound needs a doctor straight away. tree →
• Forgetting her birthday was not a grievous crime. tree →
• But at last the gods afflicted the country with a grievous pestilence, which made terrible havoc among the people. tree →

Note

Pronounced GREE-vus (two syllables). A very common mistake is «GREE-vee-us» or spelling it «grievious»: there is no i before -ous. Related: grief, grieve, grievance.

In Jewish tradition

It describes a very serious sin, as with Sodom, or a heavy famine.

Interpretation. The rabbis read the sins of Sodom as cruelty to the poor and the stranger. Abraham's trouble over sending Ishmael away shows his care for his son.

Examples

• And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son. (Torah GEN.21.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the LORD said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous. (Torah GEN.18.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous. (Torah GEN.41.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• A soft answer turneth away wrath; but a grievous word stirreth up anger. (Writings PRO.15.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• For thus saith the LORD: Thy hurt is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. (Prophets JER.30.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• A grievous vision is declared unto me: 'The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. (Prophets ISA.21.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Pronounced GREE-vus (two syllables). A very common mistake is «GREE-vee-us» or spelling it «grievious»: there is no i before -ous. Related: grief, grieve, grievance.