Evil a. and sb.

Forms: 1–2 yfel (in inflexions yf(e)l-), (2–4 ifel, 2 efel, yfell, 3 ywel(l, 2–3 ufel, 2–4 uvel(e, 2–5 ivel, (3 ȝevel, 4 ivil), 3–6 evel(l(e, (5 ewelle, hevelle, 6 ewil, yell), 4–6 evill(e, -yl(l(e, yvel(l(e, 6 yevill), 4– evil. [ME. uvel (ü), OE. yfel = OS. uƀil, OFris., MDu. evel (Du. euvel), OHG. ubil, upil (Ger. übel), Goth. ubils:—OTeut. *uƀilo-z; usually referred to the root of up, over; on this view the primary sense would be either ‘exceeding due measure’ or ‘overstepping proper limits.’

  The form evel, whence the mod. form descends, appears in ME. first as west midland and Kentish, but in 15th c. had become general. The conditions under which early M. E. (i) or (ū) became (ē), the antecedent of mod. Eng. (ī), are not clearly determined; the present word and weevil seem to be the only examples in which this change was other than local; obs. and dial. instances are yeve = ‘give,’ leve = ‘live,’ EASLE. (Other apparent examples are due to OE. forms with eo, resulting from u- or o- umlaut.)]

  A.  adj. The antithesis of GOOD in all its principal senses.

  In OE., as in all the other early Teut. langs. exc. Scandinavian, this word is the most comprehensive adjectival expression of disapproval, dislike or disparagement. In mod. colloquial Eng. it is little used, such currency as it has being due to literary influence. In quite familiar speech the adj. is commonly superseded by bad; the sb. is somewhat more frequent, but chiefly in the widest senses, the more specific senses being expressed by other words, as harm, injury, misfortune, disease, etc.

  I.  Bad in a positive sense.

  1.  Morally depraved, bad, wicked, vicious. Also absol. Obs. as applied to persons.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 37. We sceolan … ure heortan clænsian from yflum ʓeþohtum. Ibid., 161. Hi cyningum & yfelum ricum ealdormannum wiþstandan mihtan.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1742. To bærnenn all þatt ifell iss Aweȝȝ inn hise þeowwess.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 8106 (Fairf.). Lothe is Eville mannys soule & body boþe.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XV. cxvii. (1495), 532. Pentapol … hathe that name of 5 cytees of euel men that were dystroyed wyth fyre of heuen.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., x. 31 (Harl. MS.). Ivel men, þe which neyþer lovith god, neyþer hire neghebowre.

1526.  Tindale, Matt. xxi. 41. He will cruellye destroye those evyll persons.

1584.  Powel, trans. Lloyd’s Cambria, 16. Sigebert … for his Euill behaviour was expelled.

1611.  Bible, Gen. viii. 21. The imagination of mans heart is euil from his youth.

1794.  Coleridge, Relig. Musings, Wks. 1847, I. 94. She … from the dark embrace all evil things Brought forth and nurtured: mitred Atheism!

1817.  W. Selwyn, Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4), II. 1156. Imputing to a person an evil inclination.

1871.  Smiles, Charac., i. (1876), 10. Good deeds act and react on the doers of them; and so do evil.

  absol.  c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 23. Alle men shullen cume to libben echeliche . þe gode on eche blisse … þe uuele on eche wowe.

c. 1300.  Cursor M., 25249 (Cott. Galba MS.). On domesday … þe euill sall fra þe gude be drawn.

1827.  Pollok, Course T., X. 215. To the evil … Eternal recompense of shame and woe.

  2.  Doing or tending to do harm; hurtful, mischievous, prejudicial. Of advice, etc.: Misleading. Of an omen, etc.: Boding ill.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 3. Heo urnen on-ȝein him al þa hebreisce men mid godere and summe mid ufele þeonke.

c. 1205.  Lay., 2541. Ah þa heora fader wes dæd Þe sunen duden vuelne [c. 1275 vuele] ræd.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 52. Is hit so ouer vuel uor te toten utward?

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 593. Thurghe evelle conceille was slayne … the Erle of Arundelle.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 4635 (Fairf.). He prisoned was wiþ euel rede.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 330. Evyl ensaumple of opyn synne.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg. (MS. A), 41. It is not yvel to putte a litil opium to þe oile of þe rosis.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 703. Þe euyll sterne of Ercules how egirly it soroȝes.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 808. Hym shulnot harme non hevelle thyng.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 4. Gouernauncis of the clergie whiche summe of the comoun peple … iugen to be yuele.

1530.  Palsgr., 217/2. Evyll tourne, maluais tour.

1584.  Powell, trans. Lloyd’s Cambria, 99. King Edward by Euill counsel banished Algar.

1572.  Mascall, Govt. Cattle, Oxen (1627), 36. Yeugh is euill for cattell to eate.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., V. vi. 44. The Owle shriek’d at thy birth, an euill signe.

1611.  Bible, Gen. xxxvii. 20. Some euill beast hath deuoured him.

a. 1649.  Drumm. of Hawth., Wks., 32. Weigh not how we, Evil to our selves, against Thy laws rebell.

1655.  Culpepper, Riverius, I. xvi. 57. In a great Headach it is evil to have the outward parts cold.

1846.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., II. II. II. xv. § 5. The neglect of art … has been of evil consequence to the Christian world.

1868.  J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 403. The evil system of pluralities.

  3.  Uses partaking of senses 1 and 2: a. Evil will: depraved intention or purpose; also, desire for another’s harm; = ILL-WILL. rare in mod. use.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xxi. 157. He of yfelum willan ne ʓesyngað.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1065 (Cott.). For caym gaf him wit iuel will.

1340.  Ayenb., 66. Þe dyeuel beginþ þet uer of tyene and euel wyl uor to becleppe.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 121. For enuye and yuel wille is yuel to defye.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cxix. 142. The duke … pardoned them all his yuell wyll.

1540.  Coverdale, Fruitf. Less., iii. Wks. (Parker Soc.), I. 370. Many afflictions, much evil-will … shall happen unto you.

1563.  Homilies, II. Rogat. Week, III. (1859), 492. Cast we off all malice & all evil will.

1598.  Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., III. ii. (1612), 65. He [Piso] increased the euill will of the people towards him.

  b.  Evil angel, spirit, etc. Also, The Evil One († Sc. The evil man): the Devil.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xiv. 26. Forðon yfel wiht is.

1553.  Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 27. Sundrie illusions of euyl spirites.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., IV. iii. 282. Bru. Speake to me, what thou art. Ghost. Thy euill Spirit Brutus?

1611.  Bible, Luke vii. 21. Hee cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of euill spirits.

1648.  Acts Gen. Assemb., 463 (Jam.). Whilest some fell asleep, and were carelesse … the evil man brought in prelacy.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 463. That space the Evil one abstracted stood From his own evil.

1681–6.  J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 347. The Ministry of the evil Angels to him.

1727.  De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. i. (1840), 24. They did not suppose those wise men … had an evil spirit.

1825.  Lytton, Zicci, 2. The Evil Spirit is pulling you towards him.

1841.  Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 117. Sakhr was an evil Jinnee.

1881.  Bible (Revised), Matt. vi. 13. Deliver us from the evil one.

  c.  Of repute or estimation: Unfavorable. Evil tongue: a malicious or slanderous speaker. arch.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 20. Of him in holy kirke men said euelle sawe.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Cor. vi. 8. By yuel fame and good fame.

c. 1450.  Myrc, 58. Wymmones serues thow moste forsake, Of euele fame leste they the make.

1535.  Coverdale, Ecclus. xxviii. 19. Wel is him that is kepte from an euell tonge.

1611.  Bible, Deut. xxii. 19. He hath brought vp an euill name vpon a virgine of Israel.

Mod. Newspaper.  The defendant was arrested in a house of evil repute.

  4.  Causing discomfort, pain or trouble; unpleasant, offensive, disagreeable; troublesome, painful.

a. 1131.  O. E. Chron., an. 1124. Se king let hine don on ifele bendas.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 161. The berrie of … the wilde Vine,… the euill taste wherof will cause them to loth Grapes.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, I. lxxxviii. 130. The herbe is of a very euill, & strong stincking sauour.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. xx. § 2 (1695), 121. We name that Evil, which is apt to produce or increase any Pain, or diminish any Pleasure in us.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., lv. Are God and Nature then at strife That Nature lends such evil dreams?

  † b.  Hard, difficult. Const. to with inf. Obs.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 147. Hit is uuel to understonden on hwulche wise Mon mei him solf forsake.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 63. Hony is yuel to defye and engleymeth þe mawe.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxxi. 286. It was yuell mountyng of y^t hyll.

1551.  Turner, Herbal, I. A iv b. Astriction … is ether very euyll to be founde, or els there is none to be founde at all.

  † 5.  Of conditions, fortune, etc., also (rarely) of persons: Unfortunate, miserable, wretched. Evil health: misfortune (see HEALTH). Obs.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 33. Hwi beo we uule on þisse wrecche world.

a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl., 441. Hi beden God ȝiue him uuel fin.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 7320 (Trin.). Þei aske anoþer kyng þen me Euel hele þe tyme shul þei se.

c. 1450.  Merlin, i. 20. Thow toldest the person that thow were euel thereon.

1475.  Caxton, Jason, 30. Thenne cam agaynst him the king of Poulane, but that was to his euill helthe.

c. 1500.  Melusine, 78. He … after the dede & euylhap … fledd with all from þis land.

1530.  Palsgr., 217/2. Evyll lucke, malevr.

1611.  Bible, Ex. v. 19. The officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in euill case.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, V. iii. § 15. So beaten and yn such euill plight.

  b.  Of periods of time: Characterized by misfortune or suffering, unlucky, disastrous. Evil May-day: see MAY-DAY.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. IX. 120. Wastoures and wrecches out of wedloke … Conceyued ben in yuel tyme.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 107. Evyll daye gyve you, god.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 780. Her rash hand in evil hour Forth reaching to the Fruit.

1738.  Wesley, Psalms, iv. Help me in my Evil Day.

1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), IV. Introd. In an evil hour I lately changed my lodgings.

1848.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 280. In times which might by Englishmen be justly called evil times.

1878.  Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 186. The Boii … determined to anticipate the evil day.

  6.  Evil eye. (Phrases, To bear, cast, look with, an evil eye.) a. A look of ill-will.

a. 1050.  Liber Scintillarum, xxvii. (1889), 102. Unclænnyss eage yfel [oculus malus] withersacung … gemænsumiaþ man.

1382.  Wyclif, Mark vii. 22. Fro withynne, of the herte of men comen … vnchastite, yuel yȝe, blasphemyes.

1526–34.  Tindale, Matt. xx. 15. Ys thyne eye evyll because I am good.

1611.  Bible, Mark vii. 22. Lasciuiousnesse, an euill eye [Rev. V. an evil eye], blasphemie.

a. 1639.  W. Whateley, Prototypes, I. xx. (1640), 202. Why should wee … beare an evill eye towards them.

1645.  Quarles, Sol. Recant., x. 79. Let not thine eyes be evill.

1704.  Addison, Italy (1733), 58. They look with an evil eye upon Leghorne.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 394. All patriotic citizens will cast an evil eye upon you as a subverter of the laws.

  b.  A malicious or envious look which, in popular belief, had the power of doing material harm; also, the faculty, superstitiously ascribed to certain individuals, of inflicting injury by a look. Cf. Fr. mauvais œil, It. malocchio.

1796.  Statist. Acc. Scot., XVIII. 123. The less informed … are afraid of their [old Women’s] evil Eye among the cattle.

1797.  J. Dallaway, Acc. Constantinople, 391. Nothing can exceed the superstition of the Turks respecting the Evil Eye of an enemy or infidel.

1834.  Lytton, Pompeii, I. iii. He certainly possesses the gift of the evil eye.

1871.  Reade, Terrible Tempt., xxxiii. Or if you didn’t kill him, you’d cast the evil eye on him.

1879.  Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Wood-bk., s.v. Evil, ’E’s a nasty downlookin’ fellow—looks as if ’e could cast a nev’l-eye upon yo’.

  II.  Bad in a privative sense: Not good.

  † 7.  a. Of an animal or vegetable growth or product, as a tree, fruit, the body, ‘humours’: Unsound, corrupt. Of a member or organ: Diseased. To have an evil head: to be insane. b. Of air, diet, water: Wanting in the essentials of healthy nutrition; unwholesome. Obs.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. vii. 17. Ælc yfel treow byrþ yfele wæstmas.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., II. 178. Gif of þære wambe anre þa yfelan wætan cumen.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 183. Gief þe licame beð euel, loð is heo þe sowle.

c. 1320.  Seuyn Sag. (W.), 1878. Iuel blod was hire withinne.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. vii. 18. A good tree may nat make yuel fruytis, nether an yuel tree make good fruytis.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg. (MS. A.), 38. Yvel fleisch growiþ in a wounde. Ibid., 80. If … þe eir be yvel, þe sike man schal be chaungid into good eyr.

a. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour (1868), 20. A gentille man … was riotous … and hadd an evelle hede [Fr. male teste].

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xviii. 24. Beastis they … myght eate at their pleasure without bredde, whiche was an euyll dyette.

1555.  Latimer, in Foxe, A. & M. (1563), 1372/2. I am an old man and haue a verye euill backe.

1591.  F. Sparry, trans. Cattan’s Geomancie, 199. I iudged that the horse had an euill foote and was worth nothing.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. i. 139. O he hath kept an euill Diet long.

1600.  Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 341. The water whereof was so evill.

1611.  Bible, Jer. xxiv. 3. Very euill [figs], that cannot be eaten, they are so euill.

  † 8.  Inferior in quality, constitution, condition or appearance; poor, unsatisfactory, defective. Obs.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 197. Heo [seo cirice] is eac on onsyne utan yfeles heowes.

c. 1300.  Cursor M., 21805 (Edin.). Þis tale queþir it be iuil or gode I fande it writin.

13[?].  trans. Leges Burgorum c. 63, in Sc. Stat., I. 345. And gif scho makis ivil ale and dois agane þe custume of þe toune … scho sall gif til hir mercyment viii s or … be put on þe kukstule.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 4459. Whanne she wole make A fulle good silogisme … aftirward ther shal in deede Folwe an evelle conclusioun.

c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg. (MS. B.), 8. Euyle maners beþ folwynge þe lyknesse of an yvele complexioun.

1561.  in T. Thomson, Inventories (1815), 141. Item, ane evill litle burdclaith of grene.

1576.  Grindal, Let. Ld. Burleigh, Wks. (1843), 392. I pray your lordship, appoint when you come to take an evil dinner with me.

1583.  Babington, Commandm., i. Wks. (1637), 7. If a man cut with an evill knife, he is the cause of cutting, but not of evill cutting.

1592.  in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. ix. 229. Vayns … gude to be opynd for … euyll sight.

1609.  Skene, Reg. Maj., 142.

  † b.  Of a workman, work, etc.: Unskilful. Obs.

1513.  More, Rich. III. (1883), 6. None euill captaine was hee in the warre.

1530.  Palsgr., 416/1. I acloye with a nayle, as an yvell smythe dothe an horse foote.

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. 85. He is an euell pyper but a good fiddler.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 36. An excellent good seede for an euyll husbande.

1799.  S. Freeman, Town Off., 146. Forfeit every hide marred or hurt by his evil workmanship.

  B.  sb.

  I.  The adj. used absol. That which is evil.

  1.  a. In the widest sense: That which is the reverse of good; whatever is censurable, mischievous or undesirable. Also with adj.: moral, physical evil.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 939 (Fairf.). Y made eville & good to you knowen.

1382.  Wyclif, Gen. iii. 5. Ȝe shul ben as Goddis, knowynge good and yuel.

1559.  Bury Wills (1850), 153. I, Sir Willm Paynter … w^t all vnderstanding of good and evell, make this my last will.

1611.  Bible, Gen. iii. 5. Yee shall bee as Gods, knowing good and euill.

1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, I. 292. All Nature is but Art, unknown to thee … All partial Evil, universal Good.

1759.  Johnson, Idler, No. 89, ¶ 4. Almost all the moral good which is left among us, is the apparent effect of physical evil.

1819.  Pantologia, s.v., The most serious difficulty lies in accounting for the permission of moral evil or guilt.

1846.  Trench, Mirac., xviii. (1862), 295. They [the Scriptures] ever recognize the reality of evil.

1860.  Pusey, Min. Proph., 180. Evil is of two sorts, evil of sin, and evil of punishment.

1869.  J. Martineau, Ess., II. 42. Moral evil is a broad black fact.

1878.  Tait & Stewart, Unseen Univ., vii. 269. The greatest of all mysteries—the origin of evil.

  b.  What is morally evil; sin, wickedness.

c. 1040.  Rule St. Benet (Logeman), 3. Gecyr from yfele & do god.

a. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 219. Þat teonðe werod abreað, and awende on yfele.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 11. An wereȝed gost … him aure tacheð to ufele.

1413.  Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xxv. (1483), 71. To … chesen the good fro euylle.

1596.  Raleigh, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 37. Converting badd into yevill and yevill in worse.

1611.  Bible, Prov. iii. 7. Feare the Lord, and depart from euill.

  c.  What is mischievous, painful or disastrous.

c. 850.  Bede’s Death-song, in Sweet, O. E. Texts, 149. To ymbhycgannae … huaet his gastae, godaes aeththa yflaes aefter deothdaeʓe doemid uueorthae.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 1135. Nu is æʓhwonon yfel and sleʓe.

1154.  O. E. Chron., an. 1135. Al unfrið, & yfel, & ræflac.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 788. Ðat ywel him sulde nunmor deren.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7949 (Cott.). Iuel he sal apon þe rais.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 249. Ȝelde to noo man yvel for yvel.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 1699. Depely þam playnt, Quat erroure of þis Emperoure & euill þai suffird.

c. 1450.  Nominale, in Wr.-Wülcker, 709. Morbosus, full of ewylle.

1611.  Bible, Job ii. 10. Shall wee receiue good at the hand of God, and shall wee not receiue euill?

1789.  Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xviii. § 17, note. It was the dread of evil, not the hope of good that first cemented societies together.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., xcviii. Evil haunts The birth, the bridal.

  2.  To do, † say evil. (In post-inflexional Eng. hardly distinguishable from use of EVIL adv.) † With evil: with evil intention. † To take in, or to, evil: to take (a thing) ill; also, to be hurt by.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter xiv. [xv.] 3. Ne he dyde ðæm nestan his yfel.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 51. He us þonne forʓyldeþ swa we nu her doþ, ʓe godes, ʓe yfeles.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. v. 11. Eadiʓe synt ʓe þonne hi wyriað eow and ehtað eow and secʓeað ælc yfel [Vulg. omne malum] ongen eow. Ibid., John v. 29. Þa þe god worhton farað on lifes æreste, and þa þe yfel [Vulg. mala] dydon on domes æreste.

a. 1340.  Cursor M., M. 23183 (Trin.). For good & euele þat þei dud ere.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. VIII. 23. ‘And whoso synneth,’ I seyde ‘doth yuel, as me þinketh.’

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 2494. Mi lordes … Take it not in euel that I say here. Ibid., 3972. That stroke Generides to yuel nam.

c. 1460.  Emare, 535. Another letter she made with evyll.

c. 1510.  More, Picus, Wks. 15/2. If folk backbite us & saie euill of us: shal we so grevously take it, that lest they should begin to do yuel?

1570.  Levins, Manip., 127. To do Evil, male facere.

1611.  Bible, Eccl. v. 1. They consider not that they doe euill.

1842.  Lytton, Zanoni, 29. He does no evil.

  3.  With defining word: That which is evil in some particular case or relation; the evil portion or element of anything. Also quasi-abstr. as in To see the evil of (a course of action).

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xxi. 157. Ðu meaht ʓeseon eall ðæt yfel openlice ðæt ðærinne lutað.

c. 1400.  Solomon’s Bk. Wisd., 70. Ȝif he wot any yuel by þe.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cv. 127. So that all thynges consydred, the good and yuell, they yelded them to therle of Derby.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. viii. 29. The evill donne Dyes not, when breath the body first doth leaue.

1611.  Bible, John xvii. 15. I pray … that thou shouldest keepe them from the euill.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxviii. 162. All evill … inflicted without intention … is not Punishment.

1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 163. If then his Providence Out of our evil seek to bring forth good.

1759.  Johnson, Rasselas, xxix. To inquire what were the sources of … the evil that we suffer.

1876.  Mozley, Univ. Serm., ii. 38. The evil which is the excess of appetite and passion is not so bad as the evil which corrupts virtue.

  II.  A particular thing that is evil.

  4.  gen. Anything that causes harm or mischief, physical or moral. The social evil: prostitution.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 8108 (Cott.). Þir wandes thre wit-in þe rote Gains iuels all þai bar al bote.

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. Poems, B. 277. & þenne euelez on erþe ernestly grewen.

c. 1450.  Castle Hd. Life St. Cuthb. (Surtees), 3696. Of twa euels gif ȝe nede þe tane To chese.

c. 1500.  Melusine, 237. Of two euylles men ought to choose the lasse.

1539.  Taverner, Erasm. Prov., 39. A lytle euyll, a great good.

1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 77. Among other euils, they [hop gardens] will be full of Woormes.

1611.  Bible, Prov. xxii. 3. A prudent man foreseeth the euill, and hideth himselfe: but the simple passe on, and are punished.

1674.  R. Godfrey, Inj. & Ab. Physic, 94. We being admonisht by the vulgar proverb, To choose the least of Evils.

1793.  Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 135. There are evils to which the calamities of war are blessings.

1835.  Thirlwall, Greece, I. 305. Correcting an evil which disturbed the internal tranquillity of Sparta.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 136. One of the chief evils which afflicted Ireland.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 13. A real evil to be combated.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 75. We can afford to forgive as well as pity the evil which can be cured.

  † 5.  A wrong-doing, sin, crime. Usually pl. Obs.

Beowulf, 4194. [Ic] þam leod-scaðan yfla gehwylces hondlean forʓeald.

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. cv. 25 [cvi. 32]. Þær Moyses wearð mæʓene ʓebysʓad for heora yfelum.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 15. Þas þeues þet nulleð nu nefre swike heore uueles.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter lxxiv. 5 [lxxv. 4]. I said to wicke, Ivels wicli do þer forn.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., IV. i. 109. Yif þat yuelys passen wiþ outen punyssheinge.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxi. 465. I have don many grete evylles agenst my creatour.

1559.  Mirr. Mag., Worcester, xvii. King Edwardes evilles all wer counted mine.

1597.  Shaks., Rich. III., I. ii. 76 (Qo.). Of these supposed evils [Fo. crimes] … to acquit myself.

1612–5.  Bp. Hall, Contempl. O. T., VI. ii. Wks. (1625), 912. Men thinke either to patronize, or mitigate euils, by their fained reasons.

  † 6.  A calamity, disaster, misfortune. Obs.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter lxxxix. [xc.] 15. Yheres in whilke we segh ivels þus.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 41. He reprouid þe rych, and seid many iuel to cum to hem.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xix. 408. Grete evylles and harmes are happeth therby.

1535.  Coverdale, Esther viii. 6. How can I se the euell that shal happe vnto my people?

1590.  J. Smythe, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 64. Ther may uppon dyvers accidents ensue such and so great evills unto your Majestie and Realme.

1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 281. How in safety best we may Compose our present evils.

1791.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, i. With the additional evil of being separated from his family.

  7.  † a. gen. A disease, malady. Obs.

c. 1205.  Lay., 17598. Aurilie wule beon dæd. Þat ufel is under his ribben.

c. 1300.  Havelok, 114. Than him tok an iuel strong.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 3001. Som … Sal haf als þe yuel of meselry.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), viii. 29. A medicinal thing it [aloes] es for many euils.

1480.  Caxton, Descr. Eng., 25. The yelow euyll that is called the Jaundis.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 843/121. The slow creeping Evil eats his way.

1725.  N. Robinson, Th. Physick, 280. It cannot be expected,… that the feeling his Pulse, and inspecting his Urine, will remove the Evil he labours under.

  fig.  c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 3269. This is the yvelle that love they calle.

  b.  The Aleppo evil: ‘a disease, which first appears under the form of an eruption on the skin, and afterwards forms into a sort of boil’ (Penny Cycl., XII. 12/2). † The foul evil: the pox. † The falling evil: = ‘the falling sickness,’ epilepsy.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 11831 (Trin.). Þe fallyng euel had he to melle.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), vi. 69. It heleth him of the fallynge Euyll.

c. 1475.  Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 791. Hic morbus caducus, the fallyn evylle.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 506. The bloud of a Lamb mingled with wine, doth heal … those which have the foul evil.

1869.  E. A. Parkes, Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3), 79. The Aleppo evil, the Damascus ulcer, and some other diseases.

  c.  Short for KING’S EVIL: Scrofula. Also attrib. in † Evil gold, the gold coin (see ANGEL 6) given by the king to those touched by him for ‘the evil.’

[1530.  Palsgr., 182. Les escrovelles, a disease called the quynnancy or the kynges yvell.]

1605.  Shaks., Macb., IV. iii. 146. Macd. What ’s the Disease he meanes? Mal. Tis call’d the Euill.

1667.  Lond. Gaz., No. 154/4. There will be no farther Touching for the Evil till Michaelmas next. Ibid. (1702), No. 3814/4. Stolen … two Pieces of Evil Gold.

1737.  Pope, Hor. Epist., II. ii. 219. When golden Angels cease to cure the Evil.

1751.  Fielding, in Lond. Daily Advertiser, 31 Aug. Two of the most miserable Diseases … the Asthma and the Evil.

1868.  Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. App. 536. The first who undertook to cure the evil by the royal touch.

  C.  Comb.

  1.  Of the adj., chiefly parasynthetic adjs., as evil-affected (hence evil-affectedness), -complexioned, -eyed, -fortuned, -headed, -hearted, -hued, -mannered, -minded (hence evil-mindedness), -officed, -qualitied, -savo(u)red, -starred, -thewed [see THEW], -thoughted, -tongued, -weaponed, -willed; also † evil-usage = ILL-USAGE. EVIL-FAVOURED, etc.

1611.  Bible, Acts xiv. 2. Stirred vp the Gentiles, and made their mindes *euill affected against the brethren.

1670.  Cotton, Espernon, I. IV. 154. The *evil-affectedness of the people.

1623.  Drumm. of Hawth., Cypress Grove, Wks. (1711), 121. If they were not distempered and *evil complexioned, they would not be sick.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., I. i. 72. You shall not finde me (Daughter) *Euill-ey’d vnto you.

1661.  Pierce, Serm. 29 May, 35. Nor can you rationally hope to keep your Peace any longer, then whilest the evil-ey’d Factions want power to break it.

1872.  Ruskin, Eagle’s N., § 106. But to be evil-eyed, is that not worse than to have no eyes?

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, xxvi. 94. O fortune *euyll fortuned why haste thou not permytted me [etc.].

c. 1583.  Balfour, Practicks (1754) 490 (Jam.). Gif the awiner of the beist that dois the harm knew that he was *evil heidit or cumbersom.

1832.  Tennyson, Œnone, 49. *Evil-hearted Paris … Came up from reedy Simois all alone.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 368. Me … tolde him þet his deore spuse … were … lene & *vuele iheowed.

1656.  Trapp, Comm. Col. ii. 20. 796–7. The most uncivil and *evil-manner’d God of all those who have born the names of God upon earth.

1531.  in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. vii. 201. Opportunity was taken by the *evil-minded to worry alien Surgeons.

1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., II. 689. Some evil-minded beasts might … wreak their hidden hate.

1817.  Cobbett, Pol. Reg., 8 Feb., 164. The endeavours which have recently been exerted … by designing and evil-minded men.

1884.  J. Parker, Apost. Life, III. 144. We ourselves are … infinite in the variety of our *evil-mindedness.

1607.  Tourneur, Rev. Trag., II. i. What makes yon *euill-offic’d man?

1613.  Life Will. Conq., in Select. fr. Harl. Misc. (1793), 11/2. His return was on foot, by reason of the *evil-qualitied ways.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 4733. [Love is] Right *evelle savoured good savour.

1842.  Tennyson, Locksley Hall, 155. In wild Mahratta-battle fell my father *evil-starr’d.

c. 1400.  Beryn, 2177. Nevir thing so wild Ne so *evill thewid, as I was my selff.

1824.  J. Symmons, trans. Æschylus’ Agamemnon, 11.

1867.  in Deutsch’s Rem., 8. The *evil-tongued messenger arrived in the camp.

1645.  Milton, Tetrach., Wks. (1847), 218/1. Hemingius … writing of divorce … gives us six [causes thereof], adultery, desertion, inability, errour, *evil usage, and impiety.

1590.  Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, Sig.***. They haue been contented to suffer their soldiers to goe *euill weaponed.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 189. Men of holy churche, Auerouse & *euel-willed whanne thei ben auaunsed.

c. 1400.  Apol. Loll., 25. Who schal rise to gidre wiþ me aȝenis þe iuil willid.

1460–70.  Bk. Quintessence (1889), 26. Saturn is a planete evel-willid and ful of sekenes.

1533.  More, Answ. Poysoned Bk., Wks. 1054/2. His wisedome will not enter into an euil-willed heart.

  2.  Of the sb. a. objective with agent-noun, as evil-sayer, -speaker, -worker; with vbl. sb. and pr. pple. forming adjectives and substantives, as evil-boding, -saying, -speaking, -wishing. b. instrumental, with pples., forming adjs., as † evil-bicaught, -impregnated. Also evil-proof a., proof against evil. EVIL-DOER, -WILLER, etc.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 296. Thai weren sought and founde hem nought Tho he held hem *iuel bicought.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Manch. Strike, xi. 125. The *evil-bodings which a succession of Job’s comforters had been pouring into her ears.

1855.  Singleton, Virgil, I. 101. And evil-boding bitches, and ill-omened birds.

1855.  Woman’s Devotion, II. 25. *Evil-impregnated air that seemed to surround Lady Jane, wherever she went.

1864.  Skeat, trans. Uhland’s Poems, 63.

1530.  Palsgr., 217/2. *Evyll sayer, maldisant.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 93. Detraccyon is a preuy & secrete *euyll sayenge of our neyghbour.

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 274. Þeor beð naddren … Þa tered and freteð þe *uuele speken.

1413.  Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, III. v. (1483), 53. Gladly heryng euery euel speker.

1611.  Bible, 1 Pet. ii. 1. Laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and enuies, and *euill speakings.

1705.  Stanhope, Paraphr., III. 495. Many good Men … look upon these Evil-speakings as a sort of Martyrdom.

1847.  Grote, Greece, II. xi. (1862), II. 339. [Solon] forbade absolutely evil-speaking with respect to the dead.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia (1593), 71 (J.). A countrey full of *euill-wishing mindes toward him.

1552.  Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 4. Behald the doggis, behald *ewil workeris.

1611.  Bible, Phil. iii. 2. Beware of euill workers.