From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Grave \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.]
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His shield grave and great. --Chapman.
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2. Of importance; momentous; weighty; influential; sedate;
serious; -- said of character, relations, etc.; as, grave
deportment, character, influence, etc.
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Most potent, grave, and reverend seigniors. --Shak.
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A grave and prudent law, full of moral equity.
--Milton.
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3. Not light or gay; solemn; sober; plain; as, a grave color;
a grave face.
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4. (Mus.)
(a) Not acute or sharp; low; deep; -- said of sound; as, a
grave note or key.
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The thicker the cord or string, the more grave
is the note or tone. --Moore
(Encyc. of
Music).
(b) Slow and solemn in movement.
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{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.
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