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grief

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grief

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Grief  \Grief\  (gr[=e]f),  n.  [OE.  grief,  gref,  OF  grief,  gref, 
  F.  grief,  L.  gravis  heavy;  akin  to  Gr  bary`s,  Skr.  guru, 
  Goth.  ka['u]rus.  Cf  {Barometer},  {Grave},  a.,  {Grieve}, 
  {Gooroo.}] 
  1.  Pain  of  mind  on  account  of  something  in  the  past;  mental 
  suffering  arising  from  any  cause  as  misfortune,  loss  of 
  friends,  misconduct  of  one's  self  or  others  etc.;  sorrow; 
  sadness. 
 
  The  mother  was  so  afflicted  at  the  loss  of  a  fine 
  boy,  .  .  .  that  she  died  for  grief  of  it  --Addison. 
 
  2.  Cause  of  sorrow  or  pain;  that  which  afficts  or  distresses; 
  trial;  grievance. 
 
  Be  factious  for  redress  of  all  these  griefs.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  Physical  pain,  or  a  cause  of  it  malady.  [R.] 
 
  This  grief  (cancerous  ulcers)  hastened  the  end  of 
  that  famous  mathematician,  Mr  Harriot.  --Wood. 
 
  {To  come  to  grief},  to  meet  with  calamity,  accident,  defeat, 
  ruin,  etc.,  causing  grief;  to  turn  out  badly.  [Colloq.] 
 
  Syn:  Affiction;  sorrow;  distress;  sadness;  trial;  grievance. 
 
  Usage:  {Grief},  {Sorrow},  {Sadness}.  Sorrow  is  the  generic 
  term;  grief  is  sorrow  for  some  definite  cause  --  one 
  which  commenced,  at  least,  in  the  past;  sadness  is 
  applied  to  a  permanent  mood  of  the  mind.  Sorrow  is 
  transient  in  many  cases;  but  the  grief  of  a  mother  for 
  the  loss  of  a  favorite  child  too  often  turns  into 
  habitual  sadness.  ``Grief  is  sometimes  considered  as 
  synonymous  with  sorrow;  and  in  this  case  we  speak  of 
  the  transports  of  grief.  At  other  times  it  expresses 
  more  silent,  deep,  and  painful  affections,  such  as  are 
  inspired  by  domestic  calamities,  particularly  by  the 
  loss  of  friends  and  relatives,  or  by  the  distress, 
  either  of  body  or  mind,  experienced  by  those  whom  we 
  love  and  value.''  --Cogan.  See  {Affliction}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  grief 
  n  1:  intense  sorrow  caused  by  loss  of  a  loved  one  (especially  by 
  death)  [syn:  {heartache},  {heartbreak},  {brokenheartedness}] 
  2:  something  that  causes  great  unhappiness;  "her  death  was  a 
  great  grief  to  John"  [syn:  {sorrow}]




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