Dictionary:

gravamen

  (grə-vā'mən)

The part of a charge or an accusation that weighs most substantially against the accused.

[Medieval Latin gravāmen, injury, accusation, from Late Latin, encumbrance, obligation, from Latin gravāre, to burden, from gravis, heavy. See grave².]

noun

The most central and material part: core, essence, gist, heart, kernel, marrow, meat, nub, pith, quintessence, root¹, soul, spirit, stuff, substance. See be.

The basis or essence of a grievance; the issue upon which a particular controversy turns.

The gravamen of a criminal charge or complaint is the material part of the charge.

In English ecclesiastical law, the term gravamen referred to a grievance of which the clergy complained before the bishops in convocation.

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