Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ail
Ail
(āl)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Ailed
(āld)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Ailing
.] [OE.
eilen
, ailen
, AS. eglan
to trouble, pain; akin to Goth. us-agljan
to distress, agls
troublesome, irksome, aglo
, aglitha
, pain, and prob. to E. awe
. √3.] To affect with pain or uneasiness, either physical or mental; to trouble; to be the matter with; – used to express some uneasiness or affection, whose cause is unknown;
as, what
. ails
the man? I know not what ails
himWhat
aileth
thee, Hagar? Gen. xxi. 17.
☞ It is never used to express a specific disease. We do not say, a fever ails him; but, something ails him.
Ail
,Verb.
I.
To be affected with pain or uneasiness of any sort; to be ill or indisposed or in trouble.
When he
ails
ever so little . . . he is so peevish. Richardson.
Ail
,Noun.
Indisposition or morbid affection.
Pope.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ail
AIL
, v.t.To trouble; to affect with uneasiness, either of body or mind; used to express some uneasiness or affection, whose cause is unknown; as, what ails the man? I know not what ails him.
What aileth thee, Hagar? Gen. 21.
It is never used to express a specific disease. We never say, he ails a pleurisy; but it is unusual to say, he ails something; he ails nothing; nothing ails him.
AIL
,Noun.