Etymology of Grief

GRIEF (n.)

Original thirteenth-century meaning was completely unrelated to death—i.e., general hardship, suffering, and pain. Comes from Old French, meaning “wrong” (i.e., an injustice). From gravis, meaning “weighty,” and sourced from Proto-Indo-European root *gwere- “heavy,” which also forms the words aggravate, blitzkrieg, and brute.

The additional meaning of mental pain and sorrow is from 1300.

Good grief—an exclamation of surprise or dismay (not a declaration that grief can be “good”)—is from 1912.

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NOTE: Grief is a doublet* of grave, from Old English, meaning cave, trench, or ditch. Likely from Proto-Indo-European root *ghreb- “dig deep or scrape.”

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*Words that have the same etymological root but came into modern usage through different routes evolutionarily, like eyeballs did.

Sentences using GRIEF:

• “Grief overpowers as much as any human bomb. When any being dies, but particularly progeny.”
• “We are sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing. We are shocked and saddened by this horrible news. Let us know if there’s anything we can do. You are in our thoughts and prayers. She’s in heaven now. We set up a meal train, and Carol will be coming by on Tuesday with a casserole. Wishing you comfort, peace, and strength in this difficult time. Deepest sympathies. We’re here for you in your grief.”
• “I am not human, and this grief is alien to me.”