brutal English · revision 7809

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1450|origins=la brutus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɹuːtəl/ ''(UK)''; /ˈbɹu.təl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|brutal]] or directly Medieval Latin [[m|la-med|brutalis]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from Latin [[m|la|brutus|alt=brūtus|t=heavy, dull, stupid]] (see [[brute]]).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of the beasts, as opposed to humans; animal: about 1450 in the OED, the mid-15th century in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) the late 15th century in NODE.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of persons, lacking intelligence or reason, it is from about 1510,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and as rude as a brute beast, coarse, from 1709.^(OED 1989) Inhuman, coarsely cruel or savage, is from 1641 (the 1640s).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Harsh or extreme, as of weather, and unpleasantly frank, are later senses.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) ''Brutality'' is 16th-century and ''brutalize'' 18th-century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1450 – animal.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1510 – unreasoning.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1641 – cruel.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1709 – coarse.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Extremely [[cruel]] or ruthless; savage.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Crude or unfeeling in speech or manner, or painfully honest.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Harsh or severe: ''brutal cold''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[brutally]]

+ * [[brutalise]]

+ * [[Brutalism]]

+ * [[brutalize]]

+ * [[nonbrutal]]

+ * [[overbrutal]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[brutality]]

+ * [[brute]]

+ * [[brutish]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}