yvel

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Old English yfel, from Proto-West Germanic *ubil, from Proto-Germanic *ubilaz, of disputed further etymology.

Alternative forms

• ivel, evel, uvel, ivil, evil, yvyl, evyl, yvyll, ivyll, evyll, evill, yvell, evell, eveyl, yvle
• ifel, yfel, ufel, eovel, ifell (Early Middle English)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈivəl/, /ˈeːvəl/, /ˈuvəl/
• (Kentish) IPA^(key): /ˈɛvəl/, /ˈɛːvəl/

Adjective

yvel (plural and weak singular yvele, comparative worse, superlative worst)

2. Morally evil; iniquitous, malign
3. Causing harm; injurious, damaging:
   1. (pathology) infected, abnormal
   2. Causing trouble; tendentious, irascible
4. Not pleasing; unpleasant, foul.
5. Worthy of pity; pitiful, sorry.
6. Having bad fortune; unlucky, unfortunate
7. Of poor design or manufacture; bad, shoddy
8. Disparaging, negative, uncomplimentary.
9. Not trusted; untrustworthy
10. Not easy; challenging, hard

Related terms

• yvel doer
• yvelen
• yvel fare
• yvelnesse
• yvel wille

Descendants

• English: evil
• Scots: evil

References

• “ivel, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Noun

yvel (plural yveles)

1. Moral evil; iniquity, wrongness:
   • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎^[1], published c. 1410, Joon ·i· 5:19, page 115v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

     we witen þat we ben of god .· ⁊ al þe woꝛld is ſet in yuel

     We know that we are from God, and that all the world is stuck in evil.

   1. A sin or moral transgression.
   2. An evil or malicious being.
2. Harm, injury, trouble:
   1. Someone or something that harms or troubles.
   2. A malady or disease.
   3. (rare) Negative or uncomplimentary speech.

Descendants

• English: evil
• Scots: evil

References

• “ivel, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

From Old English yfele, yfle (“evilly, badly”).

Alternative forms

• ivel, evel, uvel, evil, evyl, evell, evyll, yvele, evele, uvele, yvle
• yfele, ufele (Early Middle English)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈivəl(ə)/, /ˈeːvəl(ə)/, /ˈuvəl(ə)/, /-vlə/
• (Kentish) IPA^(key): /ˈɛvəl(ə)/, /ˈɛːvəl(ə)/, /-vlə/

Adverb

yvel (comparative worse, superlative worst)

2. wickedly, evilly, iniquitously
3. badly, sloppily, poorly
4. injuriously, harmfully; in a damaging way.
   • c. 1275, Judas (Roud 2964, Child Ballad 23, Trinity College MS. B.14.39)‎^[2], folio 34, recto, lines 30-31; republished at Cambridge: Wren Digital Library (Trinity College), 2019 May 29:

     Up ſtod him iudaſ lord am I þat [frec]. / I naſ neuer o þe ſtude þer me þe evel ſpec.

     Judas stood up: "Lord, am I that bold? / I was never anywhere where people spoke ill about you."

5. hurtfully; in a way causing physical injury.
6. unfortunately, sadly, miserably.
7. wrongly, incorrectly; counter to fact.
8. sickly; having disease or illness.
9. in no way, hardly, insufficiently.
10. just, barely; by a narrow margin.

Descendants

• English: evil (obsolete)

References

• “ivel(e, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.