crudelis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [kruːˈdeː.lɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kruˈdɛː.lis]^[1]

Forms

crūdēlis (neuter crūdēle, comparative crūdēlior, superlative crūdēlissimus, adverb crūdēliter or crūdēle); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from crūdus “raw, bloody” with the suffix -ēlis.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, whom he dates c. 250–184 BC.^[4] The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant cruel, merciless, savage, of people, and of actions, inhuman, with crūdēle est “it is cruel to”, as in Cicero; of events it meant painful, piteous.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant cruel.^[5] British Medieval Latin used it of people, beasts, instruments, acts and qualities.^[6] It survives in Italian crudele and French, Spanish and Portuguese cruel, and through Old French it gave English cruel about 1200.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of people, acts and events.^[2][4]
• c. 1200 – English cruel is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Cruel, merciless.^[2]
2. Savage, inhuman.^[2]
3. Painful, piteous.^[2]

Word family

• crūdēlitās

Related words

• crūdēlē
• crūdēliter
• crūdescō
• crūditas
• crūditātiō
• crūditō
• crūdus
• English cruel

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press