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gravamen

Pronunciation: /grəˈveɪmɛn/

Definition of gravamen

noun (plural gravamina /-mɪnə/)

chiefly Law

the essence or most serious part of a complaint or accusation: a constitutional violation may comprise the gravamen of a plaintiff’s complaint
a grievance.

Origin:

early 17th century (as an ecclesiastical term denoting formal presentation of a grievance): from late Latin, literally 'physical inconvenience', from Latin gravare 'to load', from gravis 'heavy'