grief

Where does the word "grief" come from? It comes from Latin gravis, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Grief’s story begins in Latin: gravis meant “heavy, weighty.” The root of 'grave', 'gravity' and 'aggravate'. Within Latin, it grew into gravare by ancient. The root of 'grave', 'gravity' and 'aggravate'. From there it passed into Old French as grief by medieval. Carried into French for a heavy burden of sorrow. It reached English by 1200s as grief. Settled as the English word for deep sorrow, especially over a loss. Today, grief means deep sorrow, especially caused by someone's death or a great loss.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gravis "heavy, weighty", the root of 'grave', 'gravity' and 'aggravate'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient gravare "to weigh down, to burden", the root of 'grave', 'gravity' and 'aggravate'.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval grief "a heavy burden of sorrow", carried into French for a heavy burden of sorrow.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s grief "deep sorrow, especially over a loss", settled as the English word for deep sorrow, especially over a loss.