gravamen

Noun

gravamen (plural gravamens or gravamina)

1. A grievance complained of.
   • They have brought in two Papers, they ſay, in the nature of a Gravamen. I take it to be a Gravamen, and of ill conſequence for the time to come, when we have liberty to give in Reaſons to the Houſes, that they ſhould in writing give in Gravamen's to us.1645, Cornelius Burges, prolocutor pro tempore, The Ansvver of the Assembly of Divines by Authority of Parliament Now Sitting at Westminster. Unto the Reasons Given in to This Assembly by the...
   • Let there be a tranſpoſition of the words, mercy for truth, in theſe two gravamens, and then ſee whether the ſubject matter be not the very ſame. I muſt therefore deſire the Reader to receive ſatisfaction unto this, from that before written, which howſoever calculated for the meridian of mercy, yet...1658, James Rawson, Gerizim, Election, and Ebal, Reprobation. Or The Absolute Good Pleasure of Gods Most Holy Will to All the Sons of Adam Specificated, […], London: […] Iohn Owsley, for Henry...
   1. (Anglicanism) A document sent by the Lower House of Convocation to the Upper House to inform the latter of certain grievances in the church.
      • In the mean while, it was reſolved at the Synod, that ſince they muſt wait for the cited Remonſtrants, they would enter upon ſome of the Gravamina, or Points of Grievance which the Churches had laid before the Provincial Synods.1722, Gerard Brandt, “Book XXXIII”, in [anonymous], transl., The History of the Reformation and Other Ecclesiastical Transactions in and about the Low-countries, from the Beginning of the Eighth...
      • Sometimes also committees were appointed to hear the complaints of clergymen and form "gravamina" upon the evidence produced. And "gravamina" of such a formal and authoritative character, if emanating from the lower house, were usually presented by the prolocutor.1855, James Wayland Joyce, “English Synods. From the Accession of Archbishop John de Peccham to the Death of Archbishop John Morton, A.D. 1279–1500.”, in England’s Sacred Synods. A Constitutional...
2. The essence or ground of a complaint.
   • [P]roperly, no evidence can be read here that was not read below, and if evidence, which ought to have been read there, was rejected, that ought to be the gravamen of the appeal.1788 April 19, Edward Thurlow, 1st Baron Thurlow, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, “Cox against Peele”, in The English Reports, volume XXIX (Chancery, volume IX), Edinburgh: William Green &...
   • A count is sometimes considered as synonymous with a declaration, and this was its original signification in the law-French; but it is now most generally considered as a part of a declaration, wherein the plaintiff sets forth a distinct cause of action; and it frequently contains several counts, in...1809 February, Clinton (senator), “James Cheetham, plaintiff in error, against Thomas Tillotson, defendant in error”, in William Johnson, editor, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme...
3. (broadly) The essence or most important aspect of a piece of writing, a point of argument, etc.; the gist.
   • That neither Dr. Leask, nor myself, acted on such a principle, is the whole gravamen of our opponent's furious assaults upon us.1869 September 1, “The Glory of Christ in the Creation and Reconciliation of All Things. With Special Reference to the Doctrine of Eternal Evil. A Course of Sermons Preached at Eaton Chapel, Eaton...
   • Prescription drug suppliers are more likely to add even unverified reports that stand as aberrations in pharmacoepidemiologic studies when they associate a use of the product with an appreciable gravamen of injury.1989, Sidney H. Willig, “Impact of Drug Products Liability on Needs for Pharmacoepidemiologic Studies and Expertise”, in Stanley A. Edlavitch, editor, Pharmacoepidemiology, volume I, Chelsea, Mich....

   Synonyms:

   essence, nature, contour, ousia, quiddity, marrow, quintessence, whatness, bowels, sum

4. (obsolete) A formal charge or complaint.
   • In the ſaid conference, the ſaid lords communicated unto us further, that ſince the departure of the laſt poſt there hath declared to the reſident of Sweden, beſides the gravamina about ſome unequitableneſs and injuries committed concerning the tolls and paſſage of the Sound, that reparation and...1657 April 25, “The Dutch Embassadors in Denmarke to Ruysch”, in Thomas Birch, editor, A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, Esq; Secretary, First, to the Council of State, and afterwards...
   • [W]hen certain intereſt of a few great perſons were complied with, and ſeveral too juſtly complained of Gravamina from the Roman Court remedied, there might be a poſſibility of cloſing again with that Church which they then only ſo far deſerted.1662, “a Catholick gentleman” [pseudonym; Serenus de Cressy], “That Mr. [Edward] Bagshaw’s Instilling Suspicions into the Peoples Minds, as if English Divines, &c. Had a Designe to Introduce Popery...