/ ˈgriːvəs; NAmE / adjective
( formal ) very serious and often causing great pain or suffering :
He had been the victim of a grievous injustice.
► griev·ous·ly adverb :
grievously hurt / wounded
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French greveus , from grever burden, encumber, based on Latin gravare , from gravis heavy, grave.