gravamen

It is the breach of this affection and preference which constitutes the gravamen.

The gravamen of the charge is so well known to the reader that the simple account which Phineas gave of it need not be repeated.

Now she was face to face with the gravamen of her depression, with an alert morning mind to sift over its elements.

The gravamen of his offence was that he had been ashamed of her; now she was being ashamed of herself.

The gravamen of the charge against the police was that they had found the knife before Pellizioni was tried.

The famous telegram put forward by France as the gravamen, or chief offence, was not communicated to the Chamber.

This hazarding of Mrs. Owen's favor became now the gravamen of his offense, the culmination of all his offenses.

The gravamen of the heresy seems to have been the suggestion that there were men not of the progeny of Adam.

You will observe, of course, that the gravamen of this consists in my having done so after the confession.

An open pocketbook will easily secure a petition for pardon, it makes but little difference as to the "gravamen" of the crime.