evil

 
Pronunciation: /ˈiːv(ə)l, -vɪl/

adjective

  • 1profoundly immoral and wicked: his evil deeds no man is so evil as to be beyond redemption
  • (of a force or spirit) embodying or associated with the forces of the devil: we were driven out of the house by an evil spirit
  • harmful or tending to harm: the evil effects of high taxes
  • 2(of a smell or sight) extremely unpleasant: a bathroom with an ineradicably evil smell

noun

[mass noun]
  • profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force: his struggle against the forces of evil
  • [count noun] a manifestation of this, especially in people’s actions: the evil that took place last Thursday
  • [count noun] something which is harmful or undesirable: sexism, racism, and all other unpleasant social evils

Phrases

the evil eye

a gaze or stare superstitiously believed to cause harm: he gave me the evil eye as I walked past

the Evil One

archaic the Devil.

put off the evil day (or hour)

postpone something unpleasant for as long as possible: it is too easy for children to put off the evil day when they have to get down to work

speak evil of

slander: it is a sin to speak evil of the king

Derivatives

evilly

adverb

evilness

noun

Origin:

Old English yfel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch euvel and German Übel