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Ail vs Pail - What's the difference?

ail | pail |

As nouns the difference between ail and pail

is that ail is an ailment; trouble; illness while pail is a vessel of wood, tin, plastic, etc., usually cylindrical and having a handle -- used especially for carrying liquids, for example water or milk; a bucket (sometimes with a cover).

As an adjective ail

is painful; troublesome.

As a verb ail

is to cause to suffer; to trouble, afflict. (Now chiefly in interrogative or indefinite constructions..

ail

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) .

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • (obsolete) Painful; troublesome.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause to suffer; to trouble, afflict. (Now chiefly in interrogative or indefinite constructions.)
  • Have some chicken soup. It's good for what ails you.
  • * Bible, Genesis xxi. 17
  • What aileth thee, Hagar?
  • * 2011 , "Connubial bliss in America", The Economist :
  • 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?
  • To be ill; to suffer; to be troubled.
  • * Richardson
  • When he ails ever so little he is so peevish.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An ailment; trouble; illness.
  • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The awn of barley or other types of corn.
  • Anagrams

    * * ----

    pail

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A vessel of wood, tin, plastic, etc., usually cylindrical and having a handle -- used especially for carrying liquids, for example water or milk; a bucket (sometimes with a cover) .
  • The milkmaid carried a pail of milk in each hand.
  • (In technical use) A closed (covered) cylindrical shipping container.
  • Synonyms

    * bucket

    Anagrams

    * * * ----