The word 'evil' is a common English term that refers to something immoral, wicked or wrong. It is spelled using the phonemes /ˈiːv(ə)l/ which is represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /ˈiːvɪl/. The word contains two syllables, with the first sound being the long vowel sound 'ee' and the second being 'vuh'. The final sound is represented by the letter L, which is a voiceless alveolar lateral consonant, which is pronounced by elevating the tongue towards the hard palate and blowing air through the sides of the tongue.
Evil refers to a profoundly immoral or wicked state, action, motive, or belief that intentionally causes harm, suffering, or destruction. It is a concept deeply rooted in human philosophy, religion, and morality. Often seen as the antithesis of good, evil encompasses a wide range of negative qualities and behaviors.
At its core, evil is characterized by a deliberate disregard for ethical principles and a conscious intent to inflict pain, suffering, or harm upon others. It often involves acting against the commonly accepted notions of righteousness, justice, and fairness. Evil can manifest in various forms, including violence, cruelty, deception, exploitation, and malice.
It is important to note that the perception of evil can be subjective and may depend on cultural, societal, and individual beliefs. Different cultures and religions have diverse interpretations of what constitutes evil, which can vary from person to person as well.
In various mythologies and religious traditions, evil is often personified as an external force, such as demons, devils, or supernatural beings, engaging in malevolent endeavors. Evil is frequently portrayed as a powerful and seductive force, capable of corrupting individuals, societies, or even entire civilizations.
Ultimately, evil represents a moral and ethical judgment derived from the assessment of actions, intentions, and consequences. It serves as a boundary or moral compass, guiding individuals and societies towards what is considered virtuous, just, and righteous.
• Ill; wicked; vicious; having bad qualities of any kind; injurious; unfortunate; unkind.
• Wickedness; misfortune; calamity; the reverse of good; suffering; that which produces pain; any transgression of the moral law; sin.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word evil has its roots in Old English, finding its earliest form as yfel or æfel. It can be traced further back to the Proto-Germanic word ubilaz. This word eventually evolved into evill in Middle English before becoming the modern spelling evil. The word shares linguistic connections with several other Germanic languages, such as Gothic ubils and Old High German ubil. Ultimately, its origins can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *upelo-, meaning bad or evil.