Gravamem

/ɡrəˈveɪmən/ noun

Definition

An archaic or obsolete singular form of gravamen, meaning the most serious part of a charge or complaint.

Etymology

Latin form of gravamen; both derive from gravis meaning 'heavy' or 'serious.' Gravamem preserves the Latin singular while gravamen became the standard English form.

Kelly Says

This is a fascinating case of a word that English borrowed from Latin but then had to decide which Latin form to use—English went with 'gravamen' as the main singular, leaving 'gravamem' as a ghost word in old legal texts.

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