[syn: trouble, ail, pain]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ail \Ail\, n.
Indisposition or morbid affection. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ail \Ail\ ([=a]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ailed ([=a]ld); p. pr.
& vb. n. Ailing.] [OE. eilen, ailen, AS. eglan to trouble,
pain; akin to Goth. us-agljan to distress, agls troublesome,
irksome, aglo, aglitha, pain, and prob. to E. awe. [root]3.]
To affect with pain or uneasiness, either physical or mental;
to trouble; to be the matter with; -- used to express some
uneasiness or affection, whose cause is unknown; as, what
ails the man? I know not what ails him.
[1913 Webster]
What aileth thee, Hagar? --Gen. xxi.
17.
[1913 Webster]
Note: It is never used to express a specific disease. We do
not say, a fever ails him; but, something ails him.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ail \Ail\, v. i.
To be affected with pain or uneasiness of any sort; to be ill
or indisposed or in trouble.
[1913 Webster]
When he ails ever so little . . . he is so peevish.
--Richardson.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ail
n 1: aromatic bulb used as seasoning [syn: garlic, ail]
v 1: be ill or unwell
2: cause bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed [syn:
trouble, ail, pain]