grievious

Adjective

grievous (comparative more grievous, superlative most grievous)

1. Causing grief, pain, or sorrow.
   • No wonder that the old man's eye dwelt upon her with mingled pride and tenderness; yet was it a face that might cause affection many an anxious hour, for there was mind in the lofty and clear forehead, heart in the warm and flushed cheek,—and what are mind and heart to woman, but fairy gifts, for...1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Age and Youth”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 14

   Synonyms:

   saddening, sorrowful, atrabiliary, atrabilious, deplorable, depressing, distressing, heartbreaking, heartrending, miserable

2. Serious, grave, dire, or dangerous.
   • As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed, but not dangerous.1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “How My Sea Adventure Began”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part V (My Sea Adventure), page 176

   Synonyms:

   perilous, sombre, dangerous, dangersome, hazardous, hot, jeopardous, wicked, forbidding, parlous