† aggregev.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman aggregger, agregger, Anglo-Norman and Middle French agreger, Middle French aggregier, agregier to increase in seriousness, to become worse (c1100 in Old French), to make (something) heavy or burdensome (first quarter of the 12th cent.), to make (something) graver or more serious (12th cent.) < a- a- prefix⁵ + gregier to harm (a person), to do injustice to (a person), to oppress (a person) (12th cent.) < an unattested post-classical Latin form *greviāre , alteration (after *grevis : see grief adj.) of an unattested form *graviāre < classical Latin gravis grave adj.¹ Compare earlier aggrieve v. and the Romance verbs cited at that entry. Compare later aggravate v., and also gregge v.In early use frequently translating classical Latin aggravāre aggravate v. With sense 5, which is not paralleled among the senses of either the French etymon or classical Latin aggravāre , perhaps compare the etymologically distinct Middle French aggreger, agreger (see aggregate v.). The β. forms probably show alteration after classical Latin aggravāre aggravate v.; compare Middle French (rare) agragier (1389), a similar alteration of agregier.