First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1evil
adjective \ˈē-vəl, British often & US also ˈē-(ˌ)vil\
: morally bad
: causing harm or injury to someone
: marked by bad luck or bad events
evil·er or evil·lerevil·est or evil·lest
Full Definition of EVIL
1
2
a archaic : inferior b : causing discomfort or repulsion : offensive <an evil odor> c : disagreeable <woke late and in an evil temper>
3
a : causing harm : pernicious <the evil institution of slavery> b : marked by misfortune : unlucky
— evil adverb, archaic
— evil·ly \-(l)ē\ adverb
— evil·ness \-nəs\ noun
See evil defined for English-language learners
See evil defined for kids
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Origin of EVIL
Middle English, from Old English yfel; akin to Old High German ubil evil
Related to EVIL
- Synonyms
- adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked
2evil
noun
: the force of things that are morally bad
: something that is harmful or bad
Full Definition of EVIL
1
a : the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing b : a cosmic evil force
2
: something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity
See evil defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of EVIL
before 12th century
EVIL Defined for Kids
1evil
adjective \ˈē-vəl\
Definition of EVIL for Kids
1
: morally bad : wicked <an evil influence>
2
: causing harm : tending to injure <an evil spell>
Headscratcher for EVIL
Evil and “vile” are spelled using the same letters and also have similar meanings. They can both be used to describe something or someone wicked.
2evil
noun
Definition of EVIL for Kids
1
: something that brings sorrow, trouble, or destruction <the evils of poverty>
2
: the fact of suffering or wrongdoing <We must rid the world of evil.>
3
: bad behavior or moral state : wickedness <… Mr. Lapham had discovered the evil that had gone on in his absence … — Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain>
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