grieve

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

Grieve’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 grever by medieval. Carried into French for burdening or afflicting someone. It reached English by 1200s as grieve. Settled as the English word for feeling deep sorrow. Today, grieve means to feel deep sorrow, especially following a loss or death.

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 grever "to burden or afflict someone", carried into French for burdening or afflicting someone.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s grieve "to feel deep sorrow, especially over a loss", settled as the English word for feeling deep sorrow.