evil
UK[ˈiːv(ə)l]US[ˈiːv(ə)l]
adj
profoundly immoral and wicked
n
profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force
Etymology
the word 'evil' descends from the old english 'yfel', a term of common germanic heritage, related to the old frisian 'evel', old saxon 'ubil', and gothic 'ubils'. its ultimate pre-germanic origin is uncertain, though it may be connected to a proto-indo-european root meaning 'to exceed' or 'to go beyond', suggesting a transgression of boundaries. the semantic journey moved from a general sense of 'bad' or 'defective' to a more profound, often personified, concept of profound wickedness and malevolence. this evolution reflects the word's deepening association with moral and spiritual corruption, distinguishing it from mere misfortune.
Analysis
the word is a simplex unit. it originates from the old english word 'yfel', which is of germanic origin. its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
the battle between good and evil is a common theme in mythology.
he was accused of having evil intentions.
they believed the old house was a place of great evil.