Gruel

Pronunciation: /ɡruːl/

Definitions of gruel

noun a thin liquid food of oatmeal or other meal boiled in milk or water

Example Sentences

A1 The poor orphan begged for a bowl of gruel.

A2 In the olden days, prisoners were often fed only gruel.

B1 The soldiers ate a meager meal of gruel before heading into battle.

B2 The villagers survived on gruel during the harsh winter months.

C1 The chef prepared a gourmet version of gruel using exotic ingredients.

C2 Despite its simple appearance, the gruel was a delicacy at the high-end restaurant.

Examples of gruel in a Sentence

formal The orphanage served gruel to the children for breakfast every day.

informal I can't believe you actually like eating that gruel for lunch.

slang I wouldn't touch that gruel with a ten-foot pole.

figurative The monotony of his daily routine felt like a never-ending bowl of gruel.

Grammatical Forms of gruel

• past tense: gruelled
• plural: gruels
• comparative: more gruel
• superlative: most gruel
• present tense: gruels
• future tense: will gruel
• perfect tense: have gruelled
• continuous tense: is gruelling
• singular: gruel
• positive degree: gruel
• infinitive: to gruel
• gerund: gruelling
• participle: gruelled

Origin and Evolution of gruel

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'gruel' originated from the Old French word 'gruel' meaning 'coarse meal'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'gruel' evolved to refer to a thin porridge made by boiling oats or other meal in water or milk. It has also come to be associated with poverty and deprivation due to its simple and humble nature.