sickly
UK: ˈsɪkli | US: ˈsɪkli
adj. 1. often ill; weak or unhealthy in appearance
adj. 2. causing disgust or discomfort; overly sentimental or mawkish
adj. 3. (of a plant or color) pale or feeble
sickly = sick<ill> + ly<adjective-forming suffix>
- sick: From Old English sēoc (ill, diseased), related to Dutch ziek and German siech. Originally implied physical or mental suffering.
- ly: A suffix forming adjectives from nouns or other adjectives, indicating "having the qualities of" (e.g., friendly, lonely).
Etymology Origin:
The word sickly emerged in Middle English (14th century) by combining sick with the adjectival suffix -ly. It initially described chronic illness or frailty, later expanding to metaphorical uses (e.g., sickly sweet). The suffix -ly softened the bluntness of sick, giving it a descriptive nuance.
The sickly child missed school frequently due to weak immunity.
The room was painted a sickly green that made visitors uneasy.
Her sickly sentimental poem lacked genuine emotion.
The plant grew in sickly shades under the dim light.
He gave a sickly smile, clearly hiding his discomfort.