Grĭēv'ous, a.

a. [O. Fr. grevous, grevos, greveux, L. Lat. gravosus, graviosus, from Lat. gravis, heavy, O. Fr. grief, grief. See GRIEF.] 1. Causing grief or sorrow; painful; afflictive; hard to bear; offensive; harmful. The famine was grievous in the land. Gen. xii. 10. The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight, because of his son. Gen. xxi. 11. 2. Characterized by great atrocity; heinous; aggravated; flagitious; as, a grievous crime. Because their sin is very grievous. Gen. xviii. 20. 3. Full of grief; showing great sorrow or affliction; as, a grievous cry.