Middle English Dictionary Entry
crūē̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | crūē̆l adj. Also creuel, crouel. |
| Etymology | OF cruel, from L crūdēl-em. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
Of persons, gods, Fortune: (a) inclined to make another suffer or willing to see him suffer; cruel, pitiless; (b) austere, stern, unrelenting; (c) fierce in battle, brave; as noun: a fierce or brave warrior.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8616 : Þe worste men of þe lond & mest cruel al so.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)559 : Þu þat art so cruwel in þouht And wolt to merci herkne noht.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)38/5 : Þei ben more cruelar þan þe deuel.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2410 : Þis geant is ful fers and fell And of his wordes ful kruell.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.266 : Allas! how maistow in thyn herte fynde To ben to me thus cruwel and unkynde?
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)33/20 : Bedoynes..er riȝt foule folk and crowell.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)105 : Cruel, man or beste: Crudelis, severus, truculentus. Cruel min[i]ster: Satelles.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)200 : Þem aughte noghte to be so fell & crewell agaynes me.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)73 : Reste..Appeerid noght, for þoght, my crewel fo, Chaced hadde hir & slepe a-way fro me.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)171/79 : For cruel knyghtys þi childe haue ment with swerde to sle and shende.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)187/26 : Þeras he was befor fers and cruele, after he was gracyous and mercyable.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)1280 : Fendes fals and fell, And men that keyn ar and crowell.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)27 : He be-come so crewell to his peple that thei..a-roos a-geyn hym.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.77 : O cruwelle Jewes, whare fore didde ȝe thus to ȝoure king?
b
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8829 : Mek he was to Mildemen & cruel to his fon.
- c1330(?a1300) KAlex.(Auch)427/229 : Antipater vnderstondeþ wel Þe king is feloun and cruwel.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)258 : Þider he wole come on domesday, Cruwel and sterne..He þat was wonded to be Meke as a lomb.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1303 : O cruel goddes, that gouerne This world with byndyng of youre word eterne!
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2631 : He sal be cruell, fers and wrath, Agains alkin lede brath.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1189 : Syn Love and cruel Fortune it ne wolde, That in this world he lenger lyven sholde.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)267 : Who bot douke morgan? Cruwel was and heiȝe, Oȝaines him stode no man.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1509 : He scholde go to fyhte Ayein Amon the cruel king.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.44 : An armed knyght com doun, þat was S. Edmunde, cruelle als a leon.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)612 : Clenly þat crewelle couerde hym on highte, And..in kautelle he strykes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3086 : When þe kyng Arthure hade lely conquerid..All þe crowell and kene be craftes of armes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3424 : He sall be crowell and kene and conquerour holden, Couere be conqueste contres ynewe.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1076 : Þe Erle hardy and wyght, Crowell and kene.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.22 : Thus that cruelle and kene kerues on heȝte..in a cantelle he strikes.
1b.
Of animals: fierce, savage, wild.
Associated quotations
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3290 : Hercules..Arpies slow, the cruel briddes felle.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1095 : Youre woful moder wende stedfastly, That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne Hadde eten yow.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)224a/b : Ful cruel bolis wexen mylde anon if þey ben y teyed to a figge tree.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259a/b : Some bestes beþ full cruel and redy to rees and to fight.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)3/26 : Art not þou þanne a wickid man, a foultid schepard, a cruel beest?
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.43 : He..hath þut an unmeke lord foddre to his crwel hors.
2.
Of a person's disposition, attitude, or behavior: (a) fierce, cruel, pitiless; (b) stern, menacing.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1997 : The cruel ire, reed as any gleede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2199 : In herte he baar a cruel ire, redy to doon vengeaunce vp on his foos.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.723 : Of a cruel herte he..Hath mordred bothe his children.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.734 : For ernest ne for game, He of his cruel purpos nolde stente: To tempte his wyf was set al his entente.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1993 : Som tiraunt is..Which wolde han lete hym steruen..in hir cruel pryde.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.391 : Vpon a cruel coueityse myn herte gan hange.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3497 : And yit he..On me ne wolde have pite, His cruel will for to refreyne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.5.2 : Whoso wol ben myghti, he moot daunten his cruel corages.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.2.6 : Thise proude kynges..manasyng with cruel mowth, blowynge by woodnesse of herte.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)544 : In full crewell wise he toke hym be the heere..And smote hym.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)26a : Þis is a cruel word, a grim word mid alle þet ure lauerd seið.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4033 : With krewell contenance thane the kyng karpis theis wordes.
3.
Of actions or events: causing suffering or harm; cruel (vengeance, blow); fierce or destructive (battle).
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.129 : Whan Cartage was destroyed, þan fil meny myshappes, cruel strif [L cruentæ seditiones] and tresoun.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2000 : Thanne he scholde Upon his Moder do vengance So cruel [etc.].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22428 : Þaa cruel dais and þaa kene, Fore domes-dai þat sal be sene Wit sorful signes þaa fiftene.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1450 : O cruel day, accusour of the joie..Acorsed be thi comyng into Troye!
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1751 : In many cruel bataille..Of Troilus..Was seen his knyghthod.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6430 : He wolde have no pacience, But don al cruel vengeaunce.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)43 : By conqueste full cruell þey knewe hym fore lorde.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.890 : Many Crwell Strokes.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)118a : What fight is more cruelle þan þe fight of þe see, þere men beþ Islayn bothe wiþ fuyre and water?
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)29/3 : The batell was full cruell.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)1/15 : Þe comyng of Cryst to þe dome schall be so jrus and so cruell þat no tong may tell.
4.
Of a condition or state: attended by suffering; distressing, onerous; cruel (suffering, death).
Associated quotations
- c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Hat 113)22 : Hreowe: cruel.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1382 : This cruel torment and this peyne and wo.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.127 : It is better for us to deie..þan to gete a cruel lyf [L vitam..crudelem] by þe innocent children deþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/a : Þe puple of hebrews were deliuerid out of þe cruel lorschipe of Egipcians.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.242 : Deth was þe cruel mede..of many worthi man.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.802 : Þe fyne of enmyte is deth. Þouȝ þe gynnyng be but casuel, Þe fret abydyng is passyng cruel.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.830 : Joies..That now transmewed ben in cruel wo.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.847 : For pite of myn aspre and cruel peyne.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4376 : Love nyl not that I cured be Of the peynes that I endure, Nor of my cruel aventure.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.5.29 : Whan thei seyen cruele wowndes.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)323 : O, that your love..Ne my crewel deth..May holde yow stille here with me!
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)304/7 : Sufferynge so cruell deth to brynge oure saule from hell.
- a1500 SLeg.Pass.(Vsp A.3)959/135 : Hou miȝt euer ani man More cruel ded see?..Iesu, loued þou be!
5.
Of things: (a) apt to inflict injury; threatening; (b) unrelenting, stern, austere; (c) harsh, bitter.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2268 : The thonder with his fyri levene So cruel was upon the hevene [etc.].
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.6.34 : It is grevous fortune as ofte as wikkid sweerd is joyned to cruel venym.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2591 : Repressed hath Venus his crewel craft..That..Mars his venim is adoun.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2544 : Till bothe þe crowell speres brousten.
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)12/89 : He had so mani woundis, what with þe bittir scorges..& with þe cruel spere.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.295 : O firste moeuyng cruel firmament..that crowdest ay And hurlest al from est til occident, That naturelly wolde holde another way.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.839 : Fortune is my fo; Ne al the men that riden konne or go May of hire cruel whiel the harm withstonde.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)88 : It es credens, sir kynge, with cruell wordez; Trow it for no trufles!
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)109a : Closeþe þe cruwell brasen yates!
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)220a/a : Carduus..is a maner herbe..þe kynde þerof is bytynge and cruel [L austera].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)220b/a : Þe herbe coriandre..haþ somwhat of cruel vertu.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)26 : The..deuellis..toke my seid saule and..drew hit more cruellar, paynfullar, and byttirar then did the first company of the seid deuylis.
Note: New sense.
Note: New form: Comp. cruellar.
Note: Belongs to sense 2.(a).
Note: Gloss: also, as adv.: in a cruel manner, savagely, cruelly.--notes per MLL