Things that make a situation worse or more annoying; acts of making something more serious or severe.
From Latin 'aggravare' (to make heavier), combining 'ad-' (to) and 'gravis' (heavy). The -ation suffix turns it into a noun. Originally meant to make physically heavier, then evolved to mean making worse in any way.
The word 'grave' (meaning serious) shares the same Latin root 'gravis' — so aggravation literally means adding weight or seriousness to a problem, like stacking more rocks on your shoulders.
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