Air vs Ail - What's the difference?
air | ail |
(uncountable, historical, astrology, alchemy, science) The atmospheric substance above the surface of the earth which animals breathe, formerly considered to be a single substance, one of the four basic elements of ancient philosophy and one of the five basic elements of Eastern traditions.
(uncountable, physics, meteorology) That substance, now understood as the mixture of gases comprising the earth's atmosphere.
(usually, with the) The apparently open space above the ground; the mass of this substance around the earth.
A breeze; a gentle wind.
A feeling or sense.
* November 2 2014 , Daniel Taylor, "
* 1900 , , (The House Behind the Cedars) , Chapter I,
A sense of poise, graciousness, or quality.
* 1815 , (Jane Austen), (Emma) , :
(usually plural) Pretension]]; [[snobby, snobbishness; pretence that one is better than others.
* {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
, chapter=1 (music) A song, especially a solo; an aria.
* 1813 , (Jane Austen), (Pride and Prejudice) , :
(informal) Nothing; absence of anything.
An air conditioner or the processed air it produces. Can be a mass noun or a count noun depending on context; similar to hair .
(obsolete, chemistry) Any specific gas.
(snowboarding, skateboarding, motor sports) A jump in which one becomes airborne.
To bring (something) into contact with the air, so as to freshen or dry it.
To let fresh air into a room or a building, to ventilate.
To discuss varying viewpoints on a given topic.
* 1917 , National Geographic , :
To broadcast, as with a television show.
(obsolete) Painful; troublesome.
To cause to suffer; to trouble, afflict. (Now chiefly in interrogative or indefinite constructions.)
* Bible, Genesis xxi. 17
* 2011 , "Connubial bliss in America", The Economist :
To be ill; to suffer; to be troubled.
* Richardson
As nouns the difference between air and ail
is that air is while ail is .air
English
Noun
Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
- Smalling’s quick one-two of yellow cards towards the end of the first half had left an air of inevitability about what would follow and, if anything, it was probably a surprise that City restricted themselves to Sergio Agüero’s goal bearing in mind another of United’s defenders, Marcos Rojo, was taken off on a stretcher early in the second half with a dislocated shoulder.
- The girl stooped to pluck a rose, and as she bent over it, her profile was clearly outlined. She held the flower to her face with a long-drawn inhalation, then went up the steps, crossed the piazza, opened the door without knocking, and entered the house with the air of one thoroughly at home.
- "He is very plain, undoubtedly--remarkably plain:--but that is nothing compared with his entire want of gentility. I had no right to expect much, and I did not expect much; but I had no idea that he could be so very clownish, so totally without air . I had imagined him, I confess, a degree or two nearer gentility."
citation, passage=He read the letter aloud. Sophia listened with the studied air of one for whom, even in these days, a title possessed some surreptitious allurement.}}
- "If I," said Mr. Collins, "were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I should have great pleasure, I am sure, in obliging the company with an air ; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly compatible with the profession of a clergyman"
Synonyms
* * atmosphere * aura * nimbusDerived terms
* airbag * air base * air bed * airborne * air bounce * airbrake * airbrush * air bubble * airbus * air cargo * air carrier * air chamber * Air Chief Marshal * air cleaner * Air Commodore * air compressor * air-conditioned * air-conditioner * air-conditioning * air-cooled * air corridor * aircraft * aircrew * air cushion * air display * airdrome * airdrop * air duct * airfield * air flow * air force * airframe * air freight * air freshener * air guitar * airgun * air hole * air hostess * airing cupboard * air intake * air lane * airless * air letter * airlift * airline * airliner * airlock * airmail * airman * Air Marshal * air mattress * air navigation * air out * airplane * air pocket * airport * air pressure * air pump * air purifier * air quotes * air raid * air rifle * airscrew * air-sea rescue * air shaft * airshed * airship * air show * airsick * airsickness * air sign * airspace * airspeed * airstrike * airstrip * airsuit * air support * airtaxi * air terminal * airtight * air time * air-to-air * air-to-ground * air-to-surface * air traffic control * air traffic controller * air vent * Air Vice Marshal * airwaves * airway * airwoman * airworthiness * airworthy * airy * alkaline air * breath of fresh air * build castles in the air * catch air * castle in the air * clear the air * dead air * dephlogisticated air * fire air * fixed air * fluoro acid air * fresh air * get some air / take some air * give oneself airs * hepatic air * hot air * inflammable air * in the air * into thin air * mid-air * mephitic air * nitrous air * on air * on the air * phlogisticated air * pure air * put on airs * too many balls in the air * up in the air * vital air * vitriolic acid air (air)Verb
(en verb)- It's getting quite stuffy in this room: let's open the windows and air it.
- Thus, in spite of all opposition, the rural and urban assemblies retained the germ of local government, and in spite of the dual control, as the result of which much of their influence was nullified, they did have a certain value in airing abuses and suggesting improvements.
Statistics
*ail
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) .Adjective
(en-adj)Etymology 2
From (etyl) .Verb
(en verb)- Have some chicken soup. It's good for what ails you.
- What aileth thee, Hagar?
- Not content with having in 1996 put a Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA) on the statue book, Congress has now begun to hold hearings on a Respect for Marriage Act. Defended, respected: what could possibly ail marriage in America?
- When he ails ever so little he is so peevish.