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ail

Pronunciation: /ˈeɪ̯l/

The English word “ail” has 5 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To cause to suffer; to trouble, afflict. (Now chiefly in interrogative or indefinite constructions.)
  2. To be ill; to suffer; to be troubled.

noun

  1. An ailment; trouble; illness.
  2. The awn of barley or other types of corn.

adjective

  1. Painful; troublesome.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English eilen, from Old English eġlan, eġlian (“to trouble, afflict”), from Proto-West Germanic *aglijan, from Proto-Germanic *aglijaną (“to trouble, vex”), cognate with Gothic 𐌰𐌲𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (agljan, “to distress”).

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