a. [ OF. grevous, grevos, LL. gravosus. See Grief. ] 1. Causing grief or sorrow; painful; afflictive; hard to bear; offensive; harmful. [ 1913 Webster ]
The famine was grievous in the land. Gen. xii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]
The thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight. Gen. xxi. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Characterized by great atrocity; heinous; aggravated; flagitious; as, a grievous sin. Gen. xviii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. Full of, or expressing, grief; showing great sorrow or affliction; as, a grievous cry. -- Griev"ous*ly, adv. -- Griev"ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]