cruelty Hear it!

cruelty definition

cru·elty (-tē)

noun

  1. the quality or condition of being cruel; inhumanity; hardheartedness
  2. pl. cruelties -·ties a cruel action, remark, etc.
  3. Law willful infliction of physical pain or suffering upon a person or animal, or of mental distress upon a person

Etymology: ME cruelte < OFr < L crudelitas < cruel

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.