cruelnesse

Middle English

Alternative forms

• cruelnes, crwelnes, crewelnesse, cruellenes, crewelnes, crowelnes

Etymology

From cruel +‎ -nesse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkriu̯ɛlnɛs/, /ˈkriu̯əlnɛs/, /kriu̯ˈɛːlnɛs/

Noun

cruelnesse (uncountable)

1. The state of being cruel; cruelness, ruthlessness.
2. Viciousness, ferociousness; the state of being fierce.
3. (rare) Strictness, unforgivingness.
4. (rare) Injuriousness, dangerousness.

Descendants

• English: cruelness
• Scots: cruelness (obsolete)

References

• “crūē̆lnesse, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-09-12.