Ail: Verb Meaning to Trouble or Make Ill
Source: oed.com
- Ail as a verb means to cause physical pain, discomfort, or emotional trouble to someone or something.
- It also describes suffering from illness or problems, like an ailing economy.
- As a noun, ail refers to an ailment, such as common winter sicknesses.
The entry defines "ail" primarily as a verb for giving pain or trouble, either transitive or intransitive, and secondarily as a noun for minor illnesses. It traces the word's old English roots to something troublesome. This matters because it captures how we describe both personal health woes and broader troubles like failing industries.