ill-natured
|ill-na-tured|
B2
🇺🇸
/ɪl ˈneɪtʃərd/
🇬🇧
/ɪl ˈneɪtʃəd/
bad disposition
Etymology
Etymology Information
'ill-natured' originates from the combination of 'ill' meaning 'bad' and 'natured' referring to one's disposition.
Historical Evolution
'ill-natured' evolved from the Middle English use of 'ill' to describe something negative or bad, combined with 'natured' to describe one's character.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'having a bad disposition,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a bad or unpleasant disposition; unkind or spiteful.
The ill-natured comments made everyone uncomfortable.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45