Etymology Map
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Cruel

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means wilfully causing pain to others

Where does the word "cruel" come from? It comes from Latin crudelis, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
crudelis
Latin · ancient
"rough, cruel"
related to 'crudus', raw, which gave 'crude'
2
Stage 2 of 3
cruel
Old French · medieval
"merciless"
kept the Latin form almost intact
3
Stage 3 of 3
cruel
English · 1200s
"causing suffering"
used of fate and fortune in romances
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Read the full story

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.