Forms: 3–7 cruell, 4 cruelle, krewelle, 4–5 crewel(l, cruwel(l, 5 cruail, crowell, 6 creuell, 3– cruel. [a. F. cruel (in 10th c. crudel = Pr. cruzel, cruel, Sp. cruel, It. crudele):—L. crūdēl-em, morally rough, cruel, from same root as crūdus CRUDE: cf. fīdēlis.]
1. Of persons (also transf. and fig. of things): Disposed to inflict suffering; indifferent to or taking pleasure in another’s pain or distress; destitute of kindness or compassion; merciless, pitiless, hard-hearted.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2650. Vor so cruel, ne so tirant Ich wene no man ne say.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., Prol. 377. Ffor he that kyng or lord is naturel Hym oughte nat be tyraunt & crewel.
c. 1450. Merlin, 27. He be-come so crewell to his peple that thei … a-roos a-geyn hym.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 390. Sir John Bushe, which was called a cruell ambicious, and covetous man.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. vii. 56. Because I would not see thy cruell nailes Plucke out his poore old eyes.
1634. Milton, Comus, 679. Why should you be so cruel to yourself?
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 175, ¶ 13. The meanest and cruelest of human beings.
1842. Tennyson, Walk to Mail, 99. As cruel as a schoolboy ere he grows To Pity.
1871. Morley, Misc., Ser. I. Carlyle (1878), 175. The puniness of man in the centre of a cruel and frowning universe.
b. absol. = Cruel one.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., 612. Clenly þat crewelle couerde hym on highte.
1575. Gascoigne, Pr. Pleas. Kenilw. (1821), 66. This courteous cruel, and yet the cruelest courteous that ever was.
1632. Massinger, Maid of Hon., I. ii. Farewell then, fairest cruel!
1725. Pope, Odyss., XXIII. 169. Canst thou, oh cruel, unconcerned survey Thy lost Ulysses on this signal day?
c. Of actions, etc.: Proceeding from or showing indifference to or pleasure in another’s distress.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 16762 + 135 (Cott.). Hou miȝt euer ani man More cruel ded see.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 198. The Scottes … slue the people and robbed them in most cruell wise.
1656. J. Hammond, Leah & R., 6. The odiums and cruell slanders cast on those two famous Countries.
1733. in Swift’s Lett. (1766), II. 191. The cruelest revenge that one can possibly inflict (without hurting one’s self) is, that of being doubly diligent to those who neglect one, in order to shock them into better behaviour.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 160. The Puritans had … given cruel provocation.
† 2. Of men, wild beasts, etc.: Fierce, savage.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2631 (Cott.). He sal be cruell, fers, and wrath.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 44. An armed knyght … Þat was S. Edmunde, cruelle als a leon.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), viii. 30. For drede of crowell wilde bestes.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lvi. 4. I lye with my soule amonge the cruell lyons.
1600. J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, 261. The passage unto this mountaine is very difficult, in regard of certaine cruell Arabians.
† b. Of actions, etc. (esp. of contests): Fierce.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 4034. With krewelle contenance thane the kyng karpis theis wordes.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 108. Soo beganne the bataylle yet agen more cruell than it hadde be afore.
1548. Hall, Chron., 160 b. A ferce and cruell encounter.
c. 1630. Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 95 (1810), 92. The fight was cruel, and the slaughter great.
1674. Essex Papers (Camden), I. 197. Arlington had a Cruel dispute wth Anglesey yesterday, & told him yt he was a Knave.
† 3. Severe, strict, rigorous. Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 100. Þis is a cruel word, & a grim word mid alle, þet vre Louerd seið.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 327. Þey were to cruel [nimis severi] and nouȝt compynable among hem self.
1562. Winȝet, Cert. Tractates, Wks. 1888, I. 14. I haue pourit oute my creuell displesour vpon thaim.
a. 1659. Osborn, Queries, Ep. (1673), Ss v. The crueller Culture of the School.
1670. N. Riding Rec., VI. 144. An apprentice … to be received again … and the Master to be not too cruel with him.
4. Of conditions, circumstances, etc.: Causing or characterized by great suffering; extremely painful or distressing; colloq. = severe, hard.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22428 (Cott.). Þaa cruel dais and þaa kene.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, I. 36. That cruelle lyfe un-softe Whiche these ilke lovers leden.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 13. Suffrynge … intollerable turmentes … and moost cruell & bytter deth.
1611. Bible, Ex. vi. 9. They hearkened not vnto Moses, for anguish of spirit, and for cruell bondage.
1662. J. Davies, Mandelslo’s Trav. E. Ind., 4. We … had that day very cruel weather.
1710. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 26 Nov. I have got a cruel cold, and staid within all this day.
1800. Wordsw., Hart-leap Well, II. xii. O Master! it has been a cruel leap.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 545. A fate far more cruel than death befell his old rival.
1862. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt. (1865), III. IX. x. 161. But what is crueler upon me than all, is that you are ill.
5. as adv. Cruelly, distressingly; hence as a mere intensive = exceedingly, very. Obs. exc. dial.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 12. Uppon the cruellist could nihts.
1595. Spenser, Col. Clout, 911. Being to that swaine too cruell hard.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 390. Vse mee crueller if that may be.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VII. (1682), 290. The season being cruel hot.
1860. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., Cruel, one of the numerous substitutes for very, exceedingly.
1888. W. Somerset Word-bk., Cruel, very; ‘cruel good to poor volks.’
6. Comb., as cruel-hearted, -looking, adjs.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. iii. 10. This cruell-hearted Curre.
1836. J. H. Newman, in Lyra Apost. (1849), 234. Thou cruel-natured Rome!
1863. Miss Braddon, Eleanor’s Vict. (1878), ii. 17. Rather a cruel-looking hand.
