gravity

n.; pl. Gravities [ L. gravitas, fr. gravis heavy; cf. F. gravité. See Grave, a., Grief. ] 1. The state of having weight; beaviness; as, the gravity of lead. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sobriety of character or demeanor. “Men of gravity and learning.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Importance, significance, dignity, etc; hence, seriousness; enormity; as, the gravity of an offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

They derive an importance from . . . the gravity of the place where they were uttered. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Physics) The tendency of a mass of matter toward a center of attraction; esp., the tendency of a body toward the center of the earth; terrestrial gravitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mus.) Lowness of tone; -- opposed to acuteness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Center of gravity See under Center. --
Gravity battery, See Battery, n., 4. --
Specific gravity, the ratio of the weight of a body to the weight of an equal volume of some other body taken as the standard or unit. This standard is usually water for solids and liquids, and air for gases. Thus, 19, the specific gravity of gold, expresses the fact that, bulk for bulk, gold is nineteen times as heavy as water. [ 1913 Webster ]