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Where does the word "cruel" come from? It comes from Latin crudelis, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "cruel" come from? It comes from Latin crudelis, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Cruel’s story begins in Latin: crudelis meant “rough, cruel.” Related to 'crudus', raw, which gave 'crude'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cruel. Kept the Latin form almost intact. It reached English by 1200s as cruel. Used of fate and fortune in romances. Today, cruel means wilfully causing pain to others.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient crudelis "rough, cruel", related to 'crudus', raw, which gave 'crude'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval cruel "merciless", kept the Latin form almost intact.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s cruel "causing suffering", used of fate and fortune in romances.