ill
/ɪl/Not in good health; sick or unwell
She was too ill to attend the meeting.
He felt ill after eating spoiled food.
Can be used to describe physical or mental illness.
Morally wrong or unjust
The judge ruled that the defendant's actions were ill and unethical.
The ill intentions behind the policy were clear to everyone.
Used in legal or philosophical contexts to describe actions or intentions.
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💡Pro Tip
Usage Tip
'Ill' is often used in formal contexts, while 'sick' is more common in everyday speech.
⚡Gold Rule
Grammar Rule
'Ill' is an adjective and does not take an '-ly' form when used as an adverb.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'ille', from Old English 'eall', meaning 'evil' or 'bad'. The modern sense of 'sick' developed in the 16th century.
📝Usage Notes
The word 'ill' can be used as an adjective or adverb. As an adverb, it means 'badly' or 'unfavorably'.