Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Grave?

\-grave\ A final syllable signifying a ruler, as in landgrave, margrave. See {Margrave.}
\Grave\, v. t. (Naut.) To clean, as a vessel's bottom, of barnacles, grass, etc., and pay it over with pitch; -- so called because graves or greaves was formerly used for this purpose.
\Grave\, a. [Compar. {Graver} (gr[=a]v"[~e]r); superl. {Gravest.}] [F., fr. L. gravis heavy; cf. It. & Sp. grave heavy, grave. See {Grief.}] 1. Of great weight; heavy; ponderous. [Obs.] His shield grave and great. --Chapman. 2. Of importance; momentous; weighty; influential; sedate; serious; -- said of character, relations, etc.; as, grave deportment, character, influence, etc. Most potent, grave, and reverend seigniors. --Shak. A grave and prudent law, full of moral equity. --Milton. 3. Not light or gay; solemn; sober; plain; as, a grave color; a grave face. 4. (Mus.) (a) Not acute or sharp; low; deep; -- said of sound; as, a grave note or key. The thicker the cord or string, the more grave is the note or tone. --Moore (Encyc. of Music). (b) Slow and solemn in movement. {Grave accent}. (Pron.) See the Note under {Accent}, n., 2. Syn: Solemn; sober; serious; sage; staid; demure; thoughtful; sedate; weighty; momentous; important. Usage: {Grave}, {Sober}, {Serious}, {Solemn.} Sober supposes the absence of all exhilaration of spirits, and is opposed to gay or flighty; as, sober thought. Serious implies considerateness or reflection, and is opposed to jocose or sportive; as, serious and important concerns. Grave denotes a state of mind, appearance, etc., which results from the pressure of weighty interests, and is opposed to hilarity of feeling or vivacity of manner; as, a qrave remark; qrave attire. Solemn is applied to a case in which gravity is carried to its highest point; as, a solemn admonition; a solemn promise.
\Grave\, v. t. [imp. {Graved} (gr[=a]vd); p. p. {Graven} (gr[=a]v"'n) or {Graved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Graving}.] [AS. grafan to dig, grave, engrave; akin to OFries. greva, D. graven, G. graben, OHG. & Goth. graban, Dan. grabe, Sw. gr[aum]fva, Icel. grafa, but prob. not to Gr. gra`fein to write, E. graphic. Cf. {Grave}, n., {Grove}, n.] 1. To dig. [Obs.] Chaucer. He hath graven and digged up a pit. --Ps. vii. 16 (Book of Common Prayer). 2. To carve or cut, as letters or figures, on some hard substance; to engrave. Thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel. --Ex. xxviii. 9. 3. To carve out or give shape to, by cutting with a chisel; to sculpture; as, to grave an image. With gold men may the hearte grave. --Chaucer. 4. To impress deeply (on the mind); to fix indelibly. O! may they graven in thy heart remain. --Prior. 5. To entomb; to bury. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Lie full low, graved in the hollow ground. --Shak.
\Grave\, v. i. To write or delineate on hard substances, by means of incised lines; to practice engraving.
\Grave\, n. [AS. gr?f, fr. grafan to dig; akin to D. & OS. graf, G. grab, Icel. gr["o]f, Russ. grob' grave, coffin. See {Grave} to carve.] An excavation in the earth as a place of burial; also, any place of interment; a tomb; a sepulcher. Hence: Death; destruction. He bad lain in the grave four days. --John xi. 17. {Grave wax}, adipocere.