illy
Definition
- Adverb (archaic or nonstandard):
- In a bad, ill, or unfavorable manner: "illy" is an adverb form of "ill," meaning to do something poorly, wrongly, or in a way that is not good.
- Scarcely or with difficulty: It can indicate that something is done with great difficulty or barely.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- He behaved illy towards his colleagues, causing much resentment. (He acted in a bad or unfriendly manner.)
- She could illy afford the expensive dress, but bought it anyway. (She could barely afford it.)
- The plan was illy conceived and quickly failed. (The plan was poorly or wrongly conceived.)
Advanced Usage
"to take something illy": to interpret something in a negative or offended way.
- Don't take my criticism illy; I only want to help you improve. (Do not interpret it as an insult.)
"illy at ease": an uncommon variant of "ill at ease," meaning uncomfortable or uneasy.
- He felt illy at ease in the formal setting. (He felt uncomfortable.)
Variants and Related Words
Ill (adj/adv/n): the standard form; bad, evil, or sick.
- He is ill with a fever. (Sick.)
- Ill-gotten gains are never satisfying. (Obtained dishonestly.)
Illness (n): a state of being unwell.
- Her illness kept her in bed for a week. (Her sickness.)
Synonyms
- Badly: in a poor or unsatisfactory manner.
- Poorly: in an inferior or insufficient way.
- Unfavorably: in a manner that is not good or advantageous.
Related Idioms
Ill-gotten: obtained in a dishonest or unethical way.
- His ill-gotten wealth brought him no happiness. (Money gained through wrongdoing.)
Ill will: hostile or unfriendly feelings.
- There is no ill will between the two rivals. (No resentment or hostility.)
Note: "illy" is now considered archaic or nonstandard in modern English. The adverb "ill" is preferred in most contexts (e.g., "He behaved ill" instead of "He behaved illy"). Use "illy" only in historical or highly formal writing.