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#1633 04/27/00 03:59 PM
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stranger
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stranger
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I am curious about the origin of the word ruthless.

Thank you


#1634 04/27/00 04:27 PM
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try this: http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-rut1.htm

hint: often you can find word origins on the web by doing a "google" search [google.com] and simply entering "<word> origin" in the search field (without the "s).

http://members.aol.com/tsuwm/

#1635 04/28/00 11:41 AM
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addict
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It's from the word ruth (Middle English = compassion, pity, sorrow, grief, distress etc). Interesting that ruthless (and ruthful) have survived but not the original word.



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