bad
UK[bæd]US[bæd]
adj
of poor quality or a low standard; not good or acceptable
adj
morally wrong or evil
adj
(of a part of the body) injured, diseased, or causing pain
adj
(of food) decayed; rotten
n
that which is bad or unfortunate
Etymology
the adjective 'bad' has a somewhat obscure origin, first appearing in middle english around the 13th century. it is likely derived from the old english word 'bæddel', meaning 'hermaphrodite' or 'effeminate man', a term of abuse. its meaning broadened from this specific derogatory sense to the general sense of 'inferior' or 'defective'. the word's simplicity and strong phonetic presence allowed it to supplant older, more specific terms for negative qualities, becoming the primary antonym for 'good' in modern english.
Analysis
the word 'bad' is a simplex word of germanic origin. it does not break down into smaller, meaningful morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
he failed the test because he had a bad teacher.
she felt bad about forgetting her friend's birthday.
the milk has gone bad, so don't drink it.