Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/žestokъ

Etymology
Extended from an earlier, parallel to. Further origin uncertain.

Mladenov, Iljinsky considered relation with (meaning developed from an original “guest” → “foreigner, stranger” → “foe”),  from, which nowadays is usually rejected for semantic reasons. Skok tentatively proposes derivation from 🇨🇬 (probably on account of the 🇨🇬 meaning “bitter, sour”), which is phonotactically dubious. Per Vasmer, more likely akin to 🇨🇬, 🇨🇬 or perhaps 🇨🇬 <.

Adjective

 * 1) stern, hard, stiff, rigid (for material)
 * 2)  bitter, sour (for taste)
 * 3)  cruel, fierce, harsh, severe (for personality, behavior, attitude)
 * 1)  cruel, fierce, harsh, severe (for personality, behavior, attitude)

Declension
Accent paradigm C

Descendants

 * East Slavic:
 * South Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * South Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * South Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic:
 * Non-Slavic: