Ail

Verb

Definition: To cause physical or emotional pain or discomfort.

Synonyms: Trouble, Bother, Afflict

Antonyms: Heal, Soothe, Comfort

Examples:

My headache continues to ail me.
The constant rain is ailing the crops.

Mnemonics:

Think of someone feeling ill or in pain and saying, "I ail."
Ail rhymes with "pail," and just like you can fill a pail with water, you can fill your life with troubles that ail you.

Etymology:

Origin:

Middle English from Old English 'eglān', which means "to affect with dread"; from Old Norse 'agr' which means "pain, sorrow".

Historical Usage:

The word has been used to describe physical and emotional distress since the Middle English period.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"What ails you?"

Explanation:

This phrase is used to inquire about someone's troubles or discomfort, often in a caring or sympathetic manner.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Ail is often mistakenly used in place of "ale."

Explanation:

"Ail" refers to feeling unwell or causing trouble, while "ale" refers to a type of beer. These words have different meanings and should not be used interchangeably.