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grave

serious

adjective GRAH-beh Less Common

Origin: From Latin gravis (heavy, serious).

Also means

grave (medical/legal)

Usage Note

Grave is gender-invariable (un accidente grave, una herida grave) but inflects for number (graves). A false friend for English speakers: it does NOT mean 'grave' as in a burial place (that is tumba or sepultura). In music, grave means 'low-pitched' (una voz grave).

Examples

"El paciente está en estado grave."

Natural Translation

The patient is in a serious condition.

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