Also 7 brutallity. [f. as prec. + -ITY. Cf. F. brutalité.]
1. The state or condition of the brutes; the condition of living like a brute.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 166, ¶ 6. To deprave human Nature, and sink it into the Condition of Brutality.
1737. L. Clarke, Hist. Bible, VII. (1740), 416, note. Nebuchadnezzar’s state of brutality.
1863. J. G. Murphy, Comm. Gen. iii. 1–7. 131. The serpent … thereby attained to the marvellous elevation from brutality to reason and speech.
2. The quality of resembling the brutes: † a. in want of intelligence (obs.); b. in sensuality.
1549. Latimer, Serm. bef. Edw. VI., Wks. I. 252. If ye will not maintain schools and universities, ye shall have a brutality.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, III. xii. (1632), 593. If it be so [that the vulgar are less sensitive to pain], let us henceforth keepe a schoole of brutality.
1755. Young, Centaur, VI. Wks. 1757, IV. 278. Of all brutes the most brutal is the volunteer in brutality; the brute self-made.
1836. H. Coleridge, North. Worthies, I. 58. The brutality of even the highest orders.
3. Coarse incivility; violent roughness of manners; sensuality.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 149, ¶ 5. A natural Ruggedness and Brutality of Temper.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 145. His brutality was such that many thought him mad.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 46. The heavy brutality and things obscene of the court of Lewis XV.
4. Inhumanity, savage cruelty; an inhuman action.
1633. H. Cogan, Pinto’s Trav., viii. (1663), 23. They began to talk … of the Kings Brutality and Parracide.
1693. Mem. Ct. Teckely, IV. 67. The Brutallity of the Turkish Troops.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), I. xii. 196. Hellish brutality.
1860. Froude, Hist. Eng., VI. 390. His [Bonner’s] brutality was notorious and unquestionable.
1878. Morley, Diderot, II. 228. The brutalities that were every day enacted.
