Dictionary

overcruel en · ADJ

Etymology

From Middle English overcruel, equivalent to over- + cruel.

Meanings

1. overly or excessively cruel
   • The very virtue that had made her overcruel to him in the past would have made her overkind to him in the future. 1915, William John Locke, Jaffery:
   • The elder Cobos became over-cruel in his handling of the miserable horde, and several very unpleasant occurrences led to tragedy. 2013, William Albert Robinson, Deep Water and Shoal:
   • “But it is thou, oh, my brother who hast done this—this overcruel thing. Who now shall fill up the void in the chivalry of the country? […]” 1863, Edward Howard, The Old Commodore:
   • […] when he died last year, the final straw, as my husband said, ever cruel, overcruel, my mother was the one who cleaned out his home at his behest and when I asked her about the computer and what was on it, trying not to suggest I knew his secret or that he even […] 2013, Kate Bernheimer, xo Orpheus:
   • Ah, I have been overcruel To Christians, I believe. 1872, Beunans Meriasek, Whitley Stokes, The Life of Saint Meriasek:

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