gravamen grievance or its presentation XVII; part of an accusation that bears most heavily XIX. — late L. grāvāmen physical inconvenience, in medL. grievance, f. L. gravāre weigh upon, oppress, f. gravis heavy, GRAVE3.

GRAVAMEN

The basis or essence of a grievance; the issue upon which a particular controversy turns.

The gravamen of a criminal charge or complaint is the material part of the charge.

In English ecclesiastical law, the term gravamen referred to a grievance of which the clergy complained before the bishops in convocation.