Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
sickly [sik-lee] SynonymsWord Origin adjective, sick·li·er, sick·li·est.
- not strong; unhealthy; ailing.
- of, connected with, or arising from ill health: a sickly complexion.
- marked by the prevalence of ill health, as a region: the epidemic left the town sickly.
- causing sickness.
- nauseating.
- maudlin and insipid; mawkish: sickly sentimentality.
- faint or feeble, as light or color.
adverb
- in a sick or sickly manner.
verb (used with object), sick·lied, sick·ly·ing.
- to cover with a sickly hue.
Origin of sickly 1300–50; Middle English siklich, sekly (adj.). See sick1, -ly Related formssick·li·ness, nounSynonyms for sickly 1. frail, weak, puny, sick, feeble, infirm. British Dictionary definitions for sick-lied sickly adjective -lier or -liest
- disposed to frequent ailments; not healthy; weak
- of, relating to, or caused by sickness
- (of a smell, taste, etc) causing revulsion or nausea
- (of light or colour) faint or feeble
- mawkish; insipidsickly affectation
adverb
- in a sick or sickly manner
Derived Formssickliness, noun Word Origin and History for sick-lied sickly adj.
late 14c., “ill, invalid, habitually ailing,” from sick (adj.) + -ly (1). Meaning “causing sickness” in any sense is from c.1600. Related: Sickliness.