All 24 Uses of
grave
in
John Adams by McCullough
- There were other expressions which I would not have inserted, if I had drawn it up, particularly that which called the King tyrant…… I thought the expression too passionate; and too much like scolding, for so grave and solemn a document; but as Franklin and Sherman were to inspect it afterwards, I thought it would not become me to strike it out.
Subsection 1.2.3grave = serious and solemn
- In Canada, where the remnants of an American army were still holding out, the situation was gravely compounded by the ravages of smallpox.†
Subsection 1.2.3
- Later he would describe the opposition to his draft as being like "the ceaseless action of gravity weighing upon us night and day."†
Subsection 1.3.1
- I believe there is no one principle which predominates in human nature so much in every stage of life, from the cradle to the grave, in males and females, old and young, black and white, rich and poor, high and low, as this passion for superiority.†
Subsection 2.4.1
- There being as yet no national constitution, the form of government chosen by each of the states was a matter of utmost gravity.†
Subsection 2.4.4
- Nothing was more abhorrent to Adams than the prospect of a truce determined by France and other European powers and he headed south gravely worried.†
Subsection 2.5.2
- He was the picture of a statesman—firm of stance, his expression one of grave resolve.†
Subsection 2.6.1
- As he told his friend James Monroe, he had suffered "a wound in my spirit which will only be cured by the all-healing grave."†
Subsection 2.6.3
- Not satisfied with it as it was, Jefferson proceeded to redesign and reconstruct much of the house to suit his fancy, thus adding further to the expense and despite grave concern over his own private finances.†
Subsection 2.7.1
- Jefferson noted only that he paid a shilling to see the house and Shakespeare's grave.†
Subsection 2.7.2
- AT THE START of every new venture of importance in his life, John Adams was invariably assailed by grave doubts.†
Subsection 3.8.2
- "In gravity clad, He has nought in his head, But visions of Nobels and Kings," wrote Tucker, as a poetic query, to which Page responded: I'll tell in a trice'tis old Daddy Lice Who carries of pride an ass-load; Who turns up his nose, Wherever he goes, With vanity swelled like a toad.†
Subsection 3.8.2
- He is polite with dignity, affable without formality, distant without haughtiness, grave without austerity, modest, wise, and good.†
Subsection 3.8.2
- But to Adams the "sufficiency" of reason alone for the care of human affairs was by no means clear, and it was exactly the will of the majority, particularly as being exercised in France, that so gravely concerned him.†
Subsection 3.8.3
- Jefferson insisted that Freneau and his paper were saving the country from monarchy and persuaded Washington that it would be a grave misstep to impede on freedom of the press.
Subsection 3.8.3 *grave = serious and solemn
- When reports reached him that his mother was gravely ill, Adams, assuming the worst, was saddened almost beyond words.†
Subsection 3.8.4
- But should the present attempt to negotiate fail, then the President must address the Congress in a style "cautious, solemn, grave, and void of asperity," declared McHenry—Hamilton also having told him this was what he was to say.†
Subsection 3.9.3
- My daughter and son [Charles] bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave, if I don't arouse my philosophy.†
Subsection 3.10.1
- He was "never more to see anything but my plow between me and the grave," Adams told a correspondent, sounding more than a little sorry for himself.†
Subsection 3.11.3
- All the rest is balloon and bubble from the cradle to the grave.†
Subsection 3.11.4
- Letters of condolence arrived for Adams, including one from Jefferson,, who had himself been gravely ill.†
Subsection 3.12.2
- Arriving at Quincy on July 13, the President went directly to his father's house, where suddenly the gravity of his loss hit him for the first time.†
Subsection 3.12.5
- He apparently went to his grave believing the state lottery established in his behalf would resolve his financial crisis and provide for his family, but the lottery proved unsuccessful.†
Subsection 3.12.5
- Jefferson, characteristically, had both designed the stone obelisk that was to mark his grave at Monticello and specified what was to be inscribed upon it, conspicuously making no mention of the fact that he had been governor of Virginia, minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President of the United States, or President of the United States.†
Subsection 3.12.5
Definition:
-
(grave as in: Her manner was grave.) serious and/or solemnThe exact meaning of this sense of grave can depend upon its context. For example:
- "This is a grave problem," or "a situation of the utmost gravity." -- important, dangerous, or causing worry
- "She was in a grave mood upon returning from the funeral." -- sad or solemn
- "She looked me in the eye and gravely promised." -- in a sincere and serious manner