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# evil

adjective (evil, more evil, most evil); noun (evil, evils)

«evil» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Evil means very bad and cruel, wanting to hurt others. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#m1)
2. Evil is great wickedness and harm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#m2)
3. An evil is a very bad thing that causes harm, as in «the lesser of two evils». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#m3)
4. The evil can mean evil people, the wicked ones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#m4)

### In the lessons

In fairy tales and stories, evil characters, such as wicked witches and villains, fight against good ones, and good usually wins. In everyday talk it is sometimes used playfully («an evil grin»). Phrases: «good and evil», «an evil plan», «the lesser of two evils».

### Examples

- The evil witch cast a spell on the princess. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#x1)
- In the end, good defeated evil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#x2)
- The villain had an evil plan to steal the crown. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#x3)
- He gave an evil laugh in the school play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#x4)
- Bullying is cruel, not just naughty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#x5)
- Choosing between them was the lesser of two evils. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#x6)
- The cat gave the dog an evil look. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#x7)
- Kindness is thrown away upon the evil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/#x8)

### Note

As a noun it is usually uncountable. Stronger than «bad» or «naughty». Real people are complicated: in real life it is better to call actions wrong than to call people evil.

## In Jewish tradition

It means wickedness or wrongdoing, and also disaster or harm.

**Interpretation.** The Torah says to remove the evil from among the people by punishing wrongdoers; tradition also teaches that people have a pull toward good and a pull toward evil, and may choose.

### Examples

- So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee. (Torah DEU.13.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/evil/#x1)
- So thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee. (Torah DEU.17.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/evil/#x2)
- Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy people. (Torah EXO.32.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/evil/#x3)
- Shall evil be recompensed for good? (Prophets JER.18.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/evil/#x4)
- No evil shall come upon us'? (Prophets MIC.3.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/evil/#x5)
- When thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest. (Prophets JER.11.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/evil/#x6)

### Note

As a noun it is usually uncountable. Stronger than «bad» or «naughty». Real people are complicated: in real life it is better to call actions wrong than to call people evil.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «evil» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/evil/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«evil» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/evil.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «evil» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/evil/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«evil» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/evil.html) on Mova free.