[evil] adj evil.er or evil.ler ; evil.est or evil.lest [ME, fr. OE yfel; akin to OHG ubil evil] (bef. 12c) 1 a: morally reprehensible: sinful, wicked "an ~ impulse" b: arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct "a man of ~ reputation"
2. a archaic: inferior b: causing discomfort or repulsion: offensive "an ~ odor" c: disagreeable "woke late and in an ~ temper" 3 a: causing harm: pernicious "the ~ institution of slavery" b: marked by misfortune: unlucky -- evil adv, archaic -- evil.ly adv -- evil.ness n
[2]evil n (bef. 12c) 1 a: the fact of suffering, misfortune, and wrongdoing b: a cosmic evil force
2: something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity