Since words have multiple meanings, the context of a word often provides clues to its meaning
better than the dictionary's definition. In the following lines from Anne Bradstreet's poem "To
Her Father with Some Verses," what is the best definition for ill?
Most truly honored, and as truly dear,
If worth in me or ought I do appear,
Who can of right better demand the same
Than may your worthy self from whom it came?
The principal might yield a greater sum,
Yet handled ill, amounts but to this crumb;
My stock's so small I know not how to pay,
My bond remains in force unto this day.
poorly
wrongly<-----
confusingly
angry
In the context of the poem "To Her Father with Some Verses" by Anne Bradstreet, the best definition for "ill" is "wrongly".
To determine the best definition for the word "ill" in the given lines from Anne Bradstreet's poem, we can analyze the context. In the lines, the speaker is expressing gratitude and admiration towards her father. She acknowledges that her own worth or accomplishments may not be significant enough to demand the same level of honor and affection from her father. The speaker then mentions that even though the principal (referring to a financial amount) might yield a greater sum, it amounts to only a crumb when handled "ill".
From this context, we can infer that "ill" in this case means "poorly" or "wrongly". The speaker is emphasizing that even if her own resources or abilities are limited, mishandling or mismanaging them leads to only a small outcome.
Therefore, the best definition for "ill" in this specific context is "wrongly".
Read the following two sentences.
When Natalee saw the stray cat in the rain, her heart sank. The rain-soaked animal was a truly pathetic sight
poorly
ill il
adjective
adjective ill comparative adjective iller superlative adjective illest
not in full health; sick.
unwell sick not (very) well ailing poorly sickly peaked indisposed infirm out of sorts not oneself bad off in a bad way far gone bedridden valetudinarian queasy nauseous nauseated under the weather laid up rotten crummy lousy pukey dizzy woozy green around the gills like death warmed over
poor in quality.
harmful.
harmful damaging detrimental deleterious adverse injurious hurtful destructive pernicious dangerous unhealthy unwholesome poisonous noxious malefic maleficent
hostile.
hostile antagonistic acrimonious inimical antipathetic unfriendly unsympathetic unkind resentful spiteful malicious vindictive malevolent bitter
(especially of fortune) not favorable.
unlucky adverse unfavorable unfortunate unpropitious inauspicious unpromising infelicitous ominous sinister direful
adverb
adverb ill
badly, wrongly, or imperfectly.
unfavorably or unpropitiously.
poorly badly imperfectly unfavorably adversely badly inauspiciously inadequately unsatisfactorily insufficiently imperfectly poorly badly
only with difficulty; hardly.
barely scarcely hardly only just (only) with difficulty just possibly
noun
plural noun the ill noun ill plural noun ills
people who are ill.
a problem or misfortune.
evil; harm.
harm hurt injury damage pain trouble misfortune suffering distress