grievous

What it means

1. Causing grief, pain, or sorrow.

   Heavy rain had so undermined the approach to the bridge at Mountnessing as to make it unsafe, and although Chelmsford and Colchester had decked themselves with flags and bunting, the train returned to London "with grievous disappointment to all."

   1943 May and June, “Notes and News: Centenary of Railway to Colchester”, in Railway Magazine, page 176

   1 more example

   No wonder that the old man's eye dwelt upon her with mingled pride and tenderness; yet was it a face that might cause affection many an anxious hour, for there was mind in the lofty and clear forehead, heart in the warm and flushed cheek,—and what are mind and heart to woman, but fairy gifts, for whose possession a grievous price will be exacted.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Age and Youth”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 14

   Synonyms: saddening, sorrowful, atrabiliary, atrabilious, deplorable, depressing, distressing, heartbreaking

2. Serious, grave, dire, or dangerous.

   As for the captain, his wounds were grievous indeed, but not dangerous.

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “How My Sea Adventure Began”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part V (My Sea Adventure), page 176

   Synonyms: perilous, sombre, dangerous, dangersome, hazardous, hot, jeopardous, wicked

In a sentence

No wonder that the old man's eye dwelt upon her with mingled pride and tenderness; yet was it a face that might cause affection many an anxious hour, for there was mind in the lofty and clear forehead, heart in the warm and flushed cheek,—and what are mind and heart to woman, but fairy gifts, for whose possession a grievous price will be exacted.

1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Age and Youth”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 14

Where it comes from

1. Latingravō“to burden”
2. Old Frenchgrever
3. Anglo-Normangrevous
4. Middle Englishgrevous
5. Englishgrievous

From Middle English grevous, from Anglo-Norman grevous, from Old French grever, from Latin gravō (“to burden”). Developed in the 13th century. Equivalent to grief + -ous.