ail

[ eyl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause pain, uneasiness, or trouble to:

   Inside our own bodies lies the most powerful cure for what ails us—our immune systems.

   He thinks lowering taxes is the answer to all that ails our economy.

   Synonyms: distress, annoy, bother

verb (used without object)

1. to be unwell; feel pain; be ill:

   He's been ailing for some time.

ail

/ eɪl /

verb

1. tr to trouble; afflict
2. intr to feel unwell

Word History and Origins

Origin of ail¹

before 950; Middle English ail, eilen, Old English eglan to afflict (cognate with Middle Low German egelen annoy, Gothic -agljan ), derivative of egle painful; akin to Gothic agls shameful, Sanskrit aghám evil, pain

Word History and Origins

Origin of ail¹

Old English eglan to trouble, from egle troublesome, painful, related to Gothic agls shameful

Example Sentences

To love India's culture does not mean you must accept the widespread problems that still ail the country: quite the contrary.

From The Daily Beast

In thought and sound these verses express ail the frightful horror of this desolation.

From Project Gutenberg

Ask them what they ail, or who brought them in this stay, They answer not at all, but "alack!"

From Project Gutenberg

Sighing and sobbing, they weep and they wail; I marvel in my mind what the devil they ail.

From Project Gutenberg

But Rhodes was expecting too much, considering ail the circumstances.

From Project Gutenberg

And if you can now be present on ail such occasions, what will you do when you are dead?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• afflict
• bother