Cru"el*ness, n.Cruelty. [Obs.] Spenser.
Cru"els (kr&udd;"&ebreve;lz), n. pl. [Corrupt. fr. F. Úcrouelles scrofula.] Glandular scrofulous swellings in the neck.
Cru"el*ty (-t&ybreve;), n.; pl. Cruelties (-t&ibreve;z). [OF. crueltÚ, F. cruautÚ, fr. L. crudelitas, fr. crudelis. See Cruel.]
1. The attribute or quality of being cruel; a disposition to give unnecessary pain or suffering to others; inhumanity; barbarity.
Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty.
Shak.
2. A cruel and barbarous deed; inhuman treatment; the act of willfully causing unnecessary pain.
Cruelties worthy of the dungeons of the Inquisition.
Macaulay.
Cru"en*tate (kr?"?n-t?t), a. [L. cruentatus, p. p. of cruentare to make bloody, fr. cruentus bloody, fr. cruor. See Crude.] Smeared with blood. [Obs.] Glanwill.