1 (of people) enjoying harming others; wicked and cruel:
an evil man * an evil grin / laugh
2 having a harmful effect on people; morally bad:
evil deeds * the evil effects of racism
3 connected with the Devil and with what is bad in the world:
evil spirits / beings
4 extremely unpleasant:
an evil smell
IDIOMS
the evil hour / day / moment the time when you have to do sth difficult or unpleasant:
I'd better go and see the dentist-I can't put off the evil hour any longer.
moreatBREWn., GENIUSn.
noun (formal)
1 [U] a force that causes wicked or bad things to happen; wicked behaviour:
the eternal struggle between good and evil * the forces of evil * You cannot pretend there's no evil in the world.
2 [C,usually pl.] a wicked or harmful thing; the bad effect of sth:
the evils of drugs / alcohol * social evils
IDIOMS see LESSER, NECESSARY
