aggravated
Meaning
(of a situation or condition) made more serious or severe.
(of an offence) made more serious by accompanying circumstances.
(informal) annoyed or exasperated.
Structure
Usage
the drought has aggravated the already critical food shortage.
he was charged with aggravated assault for using a weapon.
she was feeling tired and aggravated after the long delay.
Etymology
the word 'aggravated' originates from the latin verb 'aggravare', which itself is a compound of the prefix 'ad-' (to, towards) and the adjective 'gravis' (heavy). the literal meaning was 'to make heavy' or 'to add weight to'. this physical sense transitioned into a metaphorical one in late latin and middle english, coming to signify making a burden, situation, or offense more serious or severe. the modern informal sense of 'annoyed' is a semantic extension from the idea of having one's patience burdened or weighed down.
Analysis
ag (prefix, latin origin, variant of 'ad-' meaning 'to, towards'); grav (root, latin origin, from 'gravis' meaning 'heavy, serious'); ated (suffix, latin origin via old french, forming past participles/adjectives meaning 'characterized by').