cruel English · revision 7688

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200|origins=la crudelis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɹuːəl/, /kɹuːl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|cruel]], earlier crudel,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin [[m|la|crudelis|alt=crūdēlis|t=rude, unfeeling, hard-hearted]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) related to crūdus, rough, raw, bloody (see [[crude]], [[raw]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The loss of the Latin medial d began in French in the 10th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Severe, strict: probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'',^(Barnhart 1988) about 1200 in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) this sense is obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of suffering or death, attended by much distress, it is from the early 13th century.^(Etymonline) Pitiless, disposed to inflict suffering, is from about 1300 (1297 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Of men or wild beasts, fierce or savage, it is from before 1300.^(OED 1989) In Australia it is also a verb, to spoil or ruin.^(Collins 2023) In dialect from Ireland to Cornwall it was also an intensive meaning dreadful, terrible, or great.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – severe, strict.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 13th century – distressing.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1300 – pitiless.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Willing to cause [[pain]] or suffering, without [[pity]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Causing pain or suffering: ''a cruel accident''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(Australian)'' To spoil or ruin something.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cruelly]]

+ * [[cruelness]]

+ * [[uncruel]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crude]]

+ * [[cruelty]]

+ * [[raw]]

+ * [[crudity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}