gravamen
noun
gra·va·men grə-ˈvā-mən 
plural gravamens or gravamina grə-ˈva-mə-nə
: the material or significant part of a grievance or complaint
Did you know?
Gravamen is not a word you hear every day, but it does show up occasionally in modern-day publications. It comes from the Latin verb gravare, meaning "to burden," and ultimately from the Latin adjective gravis, meaning "heavy." Fittingly, gravamen refers to the part of a grievance or complaint that gives it weight or substance. In legal contexts, gravamen is used, synonymously with gist, to refer to the grounds on which a legal action is sustainable. Gravis has given English several other weighty words, including gravity, grieve, and the adjective grave, meaning "important" or "serious."
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Still, the gravamen of Trump’s anti-McConnell statement, making the case that the Kentucky Republican is a political disaster compared with the masterly Trump, is risible. 
Rich Lowry, National Review, 19 Feb. 2021 Righteous anger over the double-standard would, however, have been a good reason for the House to avoid making insurrection the gravamen of its impeachment article. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 17 Jan. 2021
Rich Lowry, National Review, 19 Feb. 2021 Righteous anger over the double-standard would, however, have been a good reason for the House to avoid making insurrection the gravamen of its impeachment article. Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, 17 Jan. 2021 Word History
Etymology
Late Latin, burden, from Latin gravare to burden, from gravis
First Known Use
1602, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
gravamen
noun
gra·va·men grə-ˈvā-mən
: gist
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