Makes perfect sense.+1 for having access (and using) better references.So the correct root word could be "rue," and "ruthless, would mean "rueless." has fallen from use since late 17c. As a Moabite, Ruth would have been a target of scorn and hatred by the Jews. A search of Google News today for “ruthful” produces the epitaph “Your search – ruthful – did not match any documents,” which a quick perusal of the grim headlines confirms. Is this a reference to a kind person named Ruth?And how would this evolve into the "standard" definition?A "standard" definition is something like "cruel," or "remorseless. As a Moabite, Ruth would have been a target of scorn and hatred by the Jews. The split between Semitic and Germanic languages occurred probably more than 4000 years Welcome to the site. As a Moabite, Ruth would have been a target of scorn and hatred by the Jews. Compassion, pity, kindness, and attention are all subject to interpretation, as is the question of whether or not she would have been hated and whether the social environment would have been hostile. An upvote to get you going.Well, the Bible was written/composed/handed down a few thousand years ago. ness n. ruthless (ˈruːθlɪs) adj feeling or showing no mercy; hardhearted ˈruthlessly adv ˈruthlessness n ruth•less (ˈruθ lɪs) adj. The split between Semitic and Germanic languages occurred probably more than 4000 years Welcome to the site. I'll give you the first of those, which contains most of the important information, I think:A merging of two distinct but closely related words from the same Germanic base: (i) an Old English strong verb of Class II (The following paragraphs are even more technical, dealing with issues like strong and weak verbs in Old English and the decline of the Middle English diphthong early 14c., from reuthe "pity, compassion" (late 12c. But rue and "rueless" is the better root word. The etymology is a thornier issue. Since you committed to the previous proposal, maybe you are still interested. Freq. ), formed from reuwen "to rue" (see rue (v.)) on the model of true/truth, etc. You could get a good start on some of the basic concepts by from here: [Sound Change][1] and [Phonological Change][2].
“Rue” is perhaps most often found today in phrases such as “rue the day” (or hour, etc.
It would help understand the word ruthless better.I tend to see the centre of "ruthless" connected with the modern German noun Reue (remorse, regret), "ruth" is a noun with the ending -th as in warmth.
Makes perfect sense.+1 for having access (and using) better references.So the correct root word could be "rue," and "ruthless, would mean "rueless."
Nearest I could find in old english was "reccan" coming from german "rōk(j)an" (to care for smthg).Anyone able to verify or falsify this? “Rue,” in turn, came from the Old English “hreowan,” which meant “to afflict with sorrow, pity or regret,” and which was rooted in old Germanic and possibly Norse words. Ruth, probably a contraction of reuth "companion, friend, fellow woman. From or relating to medieval Scandinavia or its peoples, languages, or cultures…mostly Norwegian comes the word hrygth which means pity.. which turned out to be Rue and finally Ruth.
There are patterns of sound changes that are common and predictable based on the articulation of sounds among other things. Again, from EtymOnline:fem. (I hope this comment is not considered as spam, if so I beg your pardon)So the correct root word could be "rue," and "ruthless, would mean "rueless." But rue and "rueless" is the better root word. Compassion, pity, kindness, and attention are all subject to interpretation, as is the question of whether or not she would have been hated and whether the social environment would have been hostile. Rue discourages fleas and other pests from being in the space occupied by people. [1]: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_change [2]: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonological_change@Mark T: I was doing what I call a "permutation analysis (searching possible permutations; the reference to Ruth was another example).Rücksichtlos is quite plausible in this regard. Ruth, probably a contraction of reuth "companion, friend, fellow woman. It says that she declared that she would follow Naomi anywhere she went. — Carolyn Perlman.Now there’s a name I haven’t run into in a while, at least attached to anyone under 45 or so. @unreason: That's a good link. :-)I would suggest some common source with german "ruchlos", a rather outdated but still known expression. without pity or … Rue discourages fleas and other pests from being in the space occupied by people.
However, knowning this, she remained the kind and attentive servant to her mother-in-law in this hostile social environment. (I hope this comment is not considered as spam, if so I beg your pardon)Did you check etymonline.com/index.php?search=ruthless&searchmode=noneBe careful when trying to find cognate terms in other languages based on orthography. ruthless (adj.) We have the verb to rue sth (literary, dated) also in German be-reu-en. :-)I would suggest some common source with german "ruchlos", a rather outdated but still known expression. @TomAu Hi Tom, just wanted to let you know that the "Italian Language & Usage" proposal has restarted. The etymology of ruthless doesn't have much to do with the Biblical Ruth.
But, I hear you ask, if the “ruth” in “ruthless” isn’t the Biblical Ruth, what does it mean? An upvote to get you going.Well, the Bible was written/composed/handed down a few thousand years ago. At least in Hebrew, her name is definitely The Bible doesn't say anything about Ruth being kind or attentive. The opposite, or to be “ruthless,” would certainly fit the definition of “ruth-less.” I would appreciate your comments. It says that she declared that she would follow Naomi anywhere she went. The split between Semitic and Germanic languages occurred probably more than 4000 years The Bible doesn't say anything about Ruth being kind or attentive. Does anyone know for sure who sang it?My father used to sing a song in which one verse went:I have no idea where he got the song, but that’s the kind of cornpone humor that appealed to my father.I saw that poem in a dunb joke book back in the late 50s. proper name, biblical ancestor of David, from Heb.