crool: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely low / obsoleteArchaic / dialectal / non-standard informal
Quick answer
What does “crool” mean?
Non-standard or obsolete variant of 'cruel', meaning disposed to inflict pain or suffering.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Non-standard or obsolete variant of 'cruel', meaning disposed to inflict pain or suffering.
In historical or dialectal use, to treat someone with cruelty or harshness; to cause distress. Also found as a rare, informal spelling of 'cruel'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally non-standard and obsolete in both varieties. No contemporary regional preference.
Connotations
If encountered, implies archaism, deliberate stylization, or error.
Frequency
Effectively zero in modern corpora for both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “crool” in a Sentence
[Subject] + crool + [Object] (archaic transitive verb)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crool” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He would crool his foes without mercy. (archaic)
American English
- The tale spoke of a tyrant who would crool his subjects. (archaic)
adjective
British English
- It was a crool winter that year. (dialectal/obsolete)
American English
- She suffered a crool twist of fate. (dialectal/obsolete)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or literary studies discussing non-standard forms.
Everyday
Not used; would be considered a mistake.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crool”
- Using 'crool' instead of the correct 'cruel' in modern writing.
- Assuming 'crool' is a valid contemporary English word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Crool' is an obsolete or non-standard historical variant of 'cruel'. It is not part of contemporary standard English vocabulary.
No. You should always use the standard modern spelling 'cruel'. Using 'crool' will be considered a spelling error.
It is a historical spelling variant from Middle English, reflecting different phonetic interpretations. It also appears in 20th-century literary works as deliberate stylization.
It may be listed in comprehensive historical dictionaries like the OED as an obsolete form, but it is not found in standard modern learner's or collegiate dictionaries.
Non-standard or obsolete variant of 'cruel', meaning disposed to inflict pain or suffering.
Crool is usually archaic / dialectal / non-standard informal in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Crool' looks like a crooked, cruel rule.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRUELTY IS A DISTORTION (crooked/crool) OF MORALITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might you legitimately encounter the spelling 'crool'?