SICKLY, SICKNESS Meaning and
Definition
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Sickly is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is in a state of poor health or is often unwell. It suggests a tendency towards illness or a lack of robustness in one's physical condition. When applied to a person, it signifies a frequent or persistent state of being ill, weakened, or not thriving. Sickly can also describe the appearance or quality of something, such as a pale or weak color, an unpleasantly sweet odor, or a characteristic that indicates decay or deterioration.
Sickness, on the other hand, is a noun that denotes the state or condition of being sick, diseased, or unwell. It refers to any physical or mental ailment that impairs normal functioning and well-being. Sickness can range from mild, temporary discomforts to more severe, chronic conditions. It can be caused by various factors such as infections, injuries, genetic predispositions, mental disorders, or imbalances in the body.
The term sickness is also used as a broader term encompassing a general state of illness or disease, including the occurrence of such conditions within a community or population. It refers to instances when many individuals are unwell, often simultaneously, resulting in an outbreak or epidemic. Sickness can have significant social, economic, and public health implications, often leading to interventions, treatments, or preventive measures.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for SICKLY, SICKNESS
- aickly, sickness
- zickly, sickness
- xickly, sickness
- dickly, sickness
- eickly, sickness
- wickly, sickness
- suckly, sickness
- sjckly, sickness
- skckly, sickness
- sockly, sickness
- s9ckly, sickness
- s8ckly, sickness
- sixkly, sickness
- sivkly, sickness
- sifkly, sickness
- sidkly, sickness
- sicjly, sickness
- sicmly, sickness
- siclly, sickness
- sicoly, sickness
Etymology of SICKLY, SICKNESS
The word "sickly" and its related form "sickness" can be traced back to the Old English word "sēoc" and its variant "sīk". The original meaning of "sēoc" referred to being ill, weak, or feeble. Over time, the word evolved to include the sense of being unhealthy or suffering from a disease. In Middle English, "sēoc" transformed into "sike" and eventually into "sick" in modern English. The addition of the suffix "-ly" to "sick" resulted in the formation of "sickly", indicating a state of being prone to illness or displaying signs of poor health. "Sickness" is formed by adding the suffix "-ness" to "sick", forming a noun that signifies the state or condition of being sick.
