aggrieve
UK: əˈɡriːv | US: əˈɡriːv
vt. to cause grief, distress, or hardship to someone
vt. (legal) to infringe upon someone's rights unjustly
The word "aggrieve" originates from Old French agrever (to make heavier, oppress), derived from Latin aggravare (ad- "to" + gravis "heavy"). The morpheme "ag-" (variant of "ad-") signifies direction or intensification, while "grieve" retains its core meaning of causing sorrow. Over time, the term evolved to emphasize unjust treatment or legal harm, reflecting the metaphorical "weight" of distress.
The new policy may aggrieve small business owners.
She felt aggrieved by the unfair decision.
The court ruled that the law did not aggrieve his rights.
His actions aggrieved the entire community.
They sought compensation for the aggrieved parties.