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evil

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evil

Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "evil" is /ˈiːvəl/.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:

  • ˈiːv-əl

    • ˈiːv: /iː/ (a long, closed vowel sound)

    • -əl: /vəl/ (a voiced labiodental fricative /v/ followed by a voiced alveolar liquid /l/)

Word Form Variations

Evil is an adjective and a noun. As a noun, it does not have plural or singular forms. It's a singular noun that refers to a quality of being wicked or harmful.

  • However, there are related words that might have different forms:

    • Evildoer: This is a noun referring to a person who commits evil acts. It has a plural form: evildoers.

    • Evils: This is a plural noun referring to multiple instances of evil or wickedness.

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

(Noun)

Definition: A quality or force that is morally wrong, wicked, or harmful; wickedness; wickedness.

  • Synonyms: wickedness, villainy, iniquity, depravity, malice, malevolence, naughtiness, mischief

  • Antonyms: goodness, virtue, righteousness, holiness, purity, innocence

Evil (Adjective)

Definition: Morally wrong or wicked; harmful; sinister.

  • Synonyms: wicked, bad, naughty, mischievous, villainous, nefarious, iniquitous, depraved, malicious, malevolent

  • Antonyms: good, virtuous, righteous, holy, pure, innocent, benevolent, benign

Note: While "evil" can be used as a verb in some contexts, it's less common and often used in figurative or poetic language. If you have a specific context in mind, please let me know.

Examples of Use

Books

  • "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien: "And the power of the One Ring was growing in Sauron, and his evil was spreading over Middle-earth."

  • "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: "Gatsby's wealth and power were merely a mask for his underlying evil."

Newspapers

  • The New York Times: "The recent cyberattacks have exposed the evil of online criminals."

  • The Guardian: "The climate crisis is a stark reminder of the consequences of human evil."

Online Publications

  • The Atlantic: "The rise of social media has amplified the spread of evil ideas."

  • Vox: "The evil of discrimination continues to plague our society."

Entertainment

  • "Star Wars" franchise: "The dark side of the Force represents the evil that threatens the galaxy."

  • "Game of Thrones" series: "The Lannisters are often portrayed as evil villains."

General Public Discourse

  • News broadcasts: "The terrorist attack was a heinous act of evil."

  • Social media: "The spread of misinformation is a form of evil that must be combatted."

  • Everyday conversations: "That was an evil thing to do."

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Evil

  1.  1. "Evil is a lack of love." - Mother Teresa (Source: Mother Teresa, No Greater Love)

  2. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke (Source: Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France)

  3. "Evil is the absence of good." - Carl Jung (Source: Carl Jung, The Psychology of the Child)

  4. "We must be clear about what evil is, and we must be clear about what good is." - Nelson Mandela (Source: Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom)

  5. "Evil is the absence of God." - C.S. Lewis (Source: C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

  6. "Evil is not a substance, but a privation." - Saint Augustine (Source: Saint Augustine, City of God)

  7. "Evil is the work of the devil." - Bible, Matthew 13:19

  8. "Evil is the absence of love." - Mahatma Gandhi (Source: Mahatma Gandhi, My Experiments with Truth)

  9. "Evil is the absence of God." - Martin Luther King Jr. (Source: Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love)

  10. "Evil is the absence of love." - Albert Einstein (Source: Albert Einstein, The World As I See It)

Etymology

The word "evil" has a long history. It comes from the Old English word "yfel," which meant "bad" or "harmful." This word, in turn, came from the Proto-Indo-European word e-kwos, which meant "dark" or "gloomy."

So, if you trace it back far enough, the word "evil" originally meant something like "darkness" or "something that is hidden and harmful." Over time, its meaning narrowed down to specifically mean "morally wrong" or "wicked."

It's interesting to think that a word we use today to describe something bad started out as simply meaning something that was dark or hidden. It shows how language can change and evolve over time.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Evil

Phrases

  • At best: This phrase implies that something is not good, but it's the best possible outcome in a bad situation.

  • To do evil: This means to commit a bad or harmful act.

  • To be up to no good: This suggests that someone is planning or doing something harmful or dishonest.

Idioms with Synonyms

  • To be in the dark: This means to be unaware or uninformed about something, often implying that something negative or harmful is happening.

  • To play devil's advocate: This means to argue against a point of view, even if you agree with it, in order to stimulate discussion.

  • To have a heart of stone: This describes someone who is cruel or heartless.

Reasons for Fewer Idioms with "Evil":

  1. Directness: The word "evil" is very direct and strong. It's often used directly to describe something bad, rather than in figurative or idiomatic expressions.

  2. Taboo: In many cultures, the word "evil" is considered taboo or offensive, and people may avoid using it in everyday conversation.

These phrases and idioms can be used to convey the concept of evil, even if they don't directly use the word itself.

Posts Related to Evil

Source Information

Definition of evil from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.