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ail definition

ail (āl)

transitive verb

to be the cause of pain or distress to; trouble

Etymology: ME eilen < OE eglian, to afflict with dread, trouble < egle, harmful; akin to Goth agls, infamous, ON agi > awe

intransitive verb

to be in poor health, esp. over a period of time

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ail Usage Examples

Object

  • company: Many of the railroad schemes took over ailing canal companies.

Preposition: for

  • time: Mr BURGESS, who was over 80 years of age, had been ailing for some time.

Modifies a noun

  • employe: For a number of reasons, Mr. Bacon submits the relationship between the panel solicitor and the AIL employe is no different: ?

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Rather what part can you find in which I am not ailing?
ail usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

ail quotes

Oh what can ail thee, knight at arms, Alone and palely loitering; The sedge has wither'd from the lake, And no birds sing.

-Keats,John

ail quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"ail." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/ail>

APA Style

ail. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ail

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