cruel

Meanings

Adjective

• Intentionally causing or reveling in pain and suffering; merciless, heartless.
• Harsh; severe.
• Cool; awesome; neat.

Adverb

• To a great degree; terribly.

Verb

• To spoil or ruin (one's chance of success)
• To violently provoke (a child) in the belief that this will make them more assertive.

Noun

• Alternative of crewel

Origin

• From Middle English cruel, borrowed from Old French cruel, from Latin crūdēlis ("hard, severe, cruel"), akin to crūdus; see crude.