Etymologically
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crudelis

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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

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