 |
| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | yfel |
1 someone who is evil deliberately does very cruel things to harm other people : 
an evil dictator responsible for the deaths of millionshis evil deeds
bad
an evil dictator responsible for the deaths of millionshis evil deeds2 something that is evil is morally wrong because it harms people : They condemned slavery as evil.
wrong
They condemned slavery as evil.3 very unpleasant : an evil smell a puddle of evil black liquid
unpleasant
an evil smella puddle of evil black liquid4RO connected with the Devil and having special powers to harm people : evil spirits an evil spell
devil
evil spiritsan evil spell5 the power, which some people believe exists, to harm people by looking at them : He claimed to have the power of the evil eye.
the evil eye
ROHe claimed to have the power of the evil eye.6 a time when you expect something unpleasant or difficult to happen : Don't delay, you're only putting off the evil hour.
the evil hour/day etc
Don't delay, you're only putting off the evil hour. —evilly adverb: Jeff grinned evilly as he picked up the phone.
WORD FOCUS: bad Jeff grinned evilly as he picked up the phone.WORD FOCUS: bad very bad: awful, terrible, horrible, lousy informal, appalling, ghastly, atrocious, horrendous
bad, but not very bad: not very good, mediocre, second-rate, so-so, lacklustre
of bad quality: shoddy, inferior, poor quality, cheap, crummy informal
bad at doing something: be no good at something
very bad at doing something: hopeless, terrible, useless, lousy informal, incompetent
morally bad: evil, wicked, immoral, corrupt, sick, perverted, degenerate
➔ See also bad
