evil: Meaning and Definition of

e•vil

Pronunciation: (ē'vul), [key]
— adj.
  1. morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked: evil deeds; an evil life.
  2. harmful; injurious: evil laws.
  3. characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous: to be fallen on evil days.
  4. due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character: an evil reputation.
  5. marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.: He is known for his evil disposition.
  6. the devil; Satan.
—n.
  1. that which is evil; evil quality, intention, or conduct: to choose the lesser of two evils.
  2. the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin.
  3. the wicked or immoral part of someone or something: The evil in his nature has destroyed the good.
  4. harm; mischief; misfortune: to wish one evil.
  5. anything causing injury or harm: Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.
  6. a harmful aspect, effect, or consequence: the evils of alcohol.
  7. a disease, as king's evil.
—adv.
  1. in an evil manner; badly; ill: It went evil with him.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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