Also 5–6 agreuaunce, aggr-, 6 agreeuance. [a. OFr. agrevance, n. of action f. agrever: see AGGRIEVE and -ANCE.]
† 1. That which burdens or oppresses; a burden, trouble or hardship; a grievance. Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., Aggreuauns, Gravamen, nocumentum, tedium.
1599. Fenton, Guicciardin, XVII. 781. For remedie of which aggreeuances … the people … determined to resist with their weapons.
1649. Ball, Power of Kings, 2. That … our Kings should Redresse such Agrievances as they should complaine of.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., xvi. 38. Those great agonies and aggrievances of spirit that the true members of Christ are cast into by beholding such abominable practices.
2. The action of aggrieving, troubling or annoying; oppression.
1587. J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., in Holinsh., II. 172. To the aggreeuance of good subiects, & to the incouragement of the wicked.
1596. B. Griffin, Fidessa (1876), 28. Vntoward subiect of the least aggrieuance.
1819. Foster, Pop. Ignor. (1834), 4. The aggrievance of things which inevitably continue in our presence.
† 3. Aggravation. (See AGGRIEVE 3.) Obs.
1506. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de Worde), IV. xxv. 311. It is also agreuaunce of synne more or lesse of as moche that a man eteth many tymes.
