Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CRU'EL-TY, n. [L. crudelitas; Fr. cruauté.]

1. Inhumanity; a savage or barbarous disposition or temper, which is gratified in giving unnecessary pain or distress to others; barbarity; applied to persons; as, the cruelty of savages; the cruelty and envy of the people. – Shak.
2. Barbarous deed; any act of a human being which inflicts unnecessary pain; any act intended to torment, vex or afflict, or which actually torments or afflicts, without necessity; wrong; injustice; oppression. With force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. – Ezek. xxxiv.