Evil
/ˈiː.vəl/noun
Profoundly immoral and malevolent; wicked.
Did you know?In ancient texts, 'evil' was often linked to physical ailments, suggesting a deep connection between morality and health in the human psyche.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ewe-
“to be; to exist, to be unwell.”
Old English
Old English
yfel
“bad, wicked, or ill.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
illr
“bad, ill, or evil.”
Middle English
Middle English
eville
“wickedness or moral badness.”
Modern English
Modern English
evil
“profoundly immoral or malevolent.”