Where does “жестокость” come from?

жестокость (Russian) comes from Russian жесто́кий, from Old East Slavic жестокъ, from Proto-Slavic žestokъ — stern, hard, stiff, rigid (for material).

жестокость (Russian): brutality; cruelty

Definitions

  1. brutality; cruelty

Ancestry of “жестокость”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianжесто́кийcruel
2Old East Slavicжестокъ—
3Proto-Slavicžestokъstern, hard, stiff, rigid (for material)
Every word from Proto-Slavic žestokъ →Every word from Old East Slavic жестокъ →Every word from Russian жесто́кий →