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# grievous

adjective (grievous, more grievous)

«grievous» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) Very serious and harmful: a grievous mistake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#m1)
2. (formal) Causing great sadness or pain: a grievous loss. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#m2)
3. (law, UK) «Grievous bodily harm» (GBH) is a serious crime of badly hurting someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#m3)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#x1)
- The death of the queen was a grievous loss to the country. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#x2)
- The man was charged with grievous bodily harm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#x3)
- «I have sinned grievously,» said the knight in the story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#x4)
- A grievous wound needs a doctor straight away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#x5)
- Forgetting her birthday was not a grievous crime. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#x6)
- But at last the gods afflicted the country with a grievous pestilence, which made terrible havoc among the people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/#x7)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/grievous/#x1)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/grievous/#x2)
- 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/grievous/#x3)
- A soft answer turneth away wrath; but a grievous word stirreth up anger. (Writings PRO.15.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/grievous/#x4)
- For thus saith the LORD: Thy hurt is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. (Prophets JER.30.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/grievous/#x5)
- A grievous vision is declared unto me: 'The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. (Prophets ISA.21.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/grievous/#x6)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «grievous» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/grievous/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«grievous» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/grievous.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «grievous» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/grievous/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«grievous» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/grievous.html) on Mova free.