† cruelnessn.
Obsolete.
1. The quality of being cruel; cruelty.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > hard-heartedness > [noun]
crueltyc1230
unfeelingness1398
cruelnessa1400
callum?1440
cruelc1440
crudelity1483
hard-heartedness1577
callosity1614
callousness1653
stony-heartedness1673
callus1683
heartlessness1701
cold-heartedness1850
unsympathy1856
cold-bloodedness1878
inhumanism1907
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > ill-treatment > cruelty > [noun]
rethenesseOE
crueltyc1230
cruelnessa1400
savagenessa1400
cruelc1440
crudelity1483
savagec1487
savagerya1616
reluctationa1625
fellness1678
heartlessness1891
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 28739 Resun to yield well better is O merci þan of cruelnes [a1425 Galba crowelnes].
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 55 Scorgid with creuelnes.
1541 T. Paynell tr. Felicius Conspiracie of Catiline vi. f. 10 Consideryng the great cruelnesse of the dede.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene vi. i. sig. Aa The reproch of pride and cruelnesse . View more context for this quotation
2. Fierceness, savageness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > savagery > [noun]
rethenesseOE
grimcundleȝcc1175
fellhead1340
ferteec1380
fiercenessc1384
savagenessa1400
grimliness14..
fellnessc1410
bestialitya1413
fierceheadc1440
cruelness?a1475
inhumanity1477
bremeness?1529
fury1534
tigerness1535
bruteness1538
immanity1539
wolvishness?1548
ferity?c1550
brutishness1567
truculency1569
Phalarism1581
ferocity1606
savagerya1616
brutality1633
inhumanness1649
wolfishness1676
boarishness1682
brutism1687
truculence1727
ferociousness1766
bestialism1824
tigerhood1846
Calibanism1859
unhumanness1885
inhumanism1907
Hunnishness1914
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [noun]
grimcundleȝcc1175
fellhead1340
ferteec1380
fiercetya1382
fiercenessc1384
grimliness14..
fellnessc1410
fierceheadc1440
grillc1450
cruelness?a1475
tigerness1535
wolvishness?1548
ferity?c1550
truculency1569
cursedness1589
ferocity1606
wolfishness1676
boarishness1682
brutishness1683
truculence1727
ferociousness1766
tiger1825
tigerhood1846
Hunnishness1914
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1865) I. 153 Amazones..the cruellenes of whom Hercules did mitigate firste.
1552 R. Record Ground of Artes (rev. ed.) Pref. to Edw. VI sig. A.iiijv To conuert wylde people to a myldnes, and to chaunge their furious cruelnes into gentill curtesy.
1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd iv. 53 Your dogge, for all his fiercenesse, and cruelnesse of nature [etc.].
3. Severity, rigour.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > strictness > [noun] > severity or sternness
rethenesseOE
grimness971
hardnessOE
sternhead1297
sharpnessa1325
reddoura1375
fiercetya1382
sternness1382
fiercenessc1384
sturdinessc1384
fellnessc1410
austeritya1425
raddourc1440
austerenessa1450
severity1530
cruelness1537
cruelty1556
severeness1579
tender mercies1611
piquancya1677
Draconianism1819
astringency1823
Draconism1832
hard-handedness1849
starkness1884
1537 Inst. Christen Man (new ed.) L v b A good iudge..although he shewe outwardely cruelnesse and rygour, yet inwardly he ought to loue the personne.
a1625 J. Boys Wks. (1630) 415 Wise men inuented the game of Chesse to mitigate the cruelnesse of governours.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.a1400