Date: Thu Jun 18 00:05:31 EDT 1998
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--gravamen
gravamen (gra-VAY-muhn) noun [plural gravamens or gravamina (-VAM-uh-nuh)]

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

[Medieval Latin gravamen, injury, accusation, from Late Latin, encumbrance