sick en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English sik, sike, seek, seke, seok, from Old English sēoc (“sick, ill”), from Proto-West Germanic *seuk, from Proto-Germanic *seukaz, from Proto-Indo-European *sewg- (“to be troubled or grieved”). See also West Frisian siik, Dutch ziek, German siech, Norwegian Bokmål syk, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish sjuk, Danish syg; also Middle Irish socht (“silence, depression”), Old Armenian հիւծանիմ (hiwcanim, “to be weakening”). The "very good, excellent" sense is an ameliorative semantic shift from the original sense of "in poor health". Compare similar semantic development in terrific and wicked.
Meanings
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In poor health; ill.
‘Children crawled over each other like little grey worms in the gutters,’ he said. ‘The only red things about them were their buttocks and they were raw. Their faces looked as if snails had slimed on them and their mothers were like great sick beasts whose byres had never been cleared.[…]’
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 7, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:We have to care for the sick.
Ne take noon hede to brynge togidere þe parties of þe boon þat is to-broken or dislocate, til viij. daies ben goon in þe wyntir, & v. in þe somer; for þanne it schal make quytture, and be sikir from swellynge; & þanne brynge togidere þe brynkis eiþer þe disiuncture after þe techynge þat schal be seid in þe chapitle of algebra.
a1420, The British Museum Additional MS, 12,056, “Wounds complicated by the Dislocation of a Bone”, in Robert von Fleischhacker, editor, Lanfranc’s “Science of cirurgie.”, London: K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co, translation of original by Lanfranc of Milan, published 1894, →ISBN, page 63:
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In poor health; ill. ▸ [with with] Afflicted by (a specific condition, usually medical).
She was sick all day with the flu.
sick with a cold—sick with contagious diseases—sick with sciatica—sick with love—sick with worry
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Having an urge to vomit.
[…] trying hard to cry. Crying’s good. Crying teaches him to breathe. But I wish he weren’t crying from hunger. I feel dizzy. I sit down and feel a little sick. Maybe I’ll vomit, too. No, to never vomit. I feel sick, but I won’t vomit. I never vomit.
1958, Gene D’Olive, Chiara, Signet Book:My daughter was violently sick three times in the night.
I feel sick, like I might vomit, and I'm more tired than I can ever remember feeling.
2013, Cheryl Rainfield, Stained, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, page 38:In the meantime the old man had gotten up and gone out in the yard and began to vomit. Henry said I believe I feel sick and got up and went out. He went out one door and his father went out the other one. I did not think there was anything wrong with the coffee and I asked my wife to pour this out […]
1913, The Texas criminal reports, page 8:Q. Didn't he complain he was sick before he commenced to vomit? A. He did, just before he said, to me, “I feel sick,” I asked him if he wanted to throw up and he said yes.
1918, Cecil Day Lewis, The Whispering Roots, Jonathan Cape, page 140:
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(colloquial) Mentally unstable, disturbed.
What a sick, sick feeling / To let you go, my dear
2018, Boy Pablo, “Sick Feeling”:You sick bastard!
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(colloquial) In bad taste.
That’s a sick joke.
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[with of] Tired of or annoyed by (something that has lasted a long time or often recurs).
sick and tired of the whining—sick of waiting—'sick of politics
I’m so sick of that same old love, the kind that breaks your heart.
2015, “Same Old Love”, in Revival, performed by Selena Gomez:I’ve heard that song on the radio so many times that I’m starting to get sick of it.
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(slang) Very good, excellent, awesome, badass.
This tune is sick.
Dude, this car's got a sick subwoofer!
He showed off his sick surfing skills.
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In poor condition.
sick building syndrome; my car is looking pretty sick; my job prospects are pretty sick
- Failing to sustain adequate harvests of crop, usually specified.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sicker | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| sickest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
well · crap · fit · fit · healthy · naff · healthy · uncool · well
Deriveds
sickfic · sickbag · airsick · sickout · sick list · pig-sick · sick day · sick club · oversick · sick joke · planesick · landsick · sick lit · lovesick · moonsick · be sick · trainsick · milt-sick · sick to the back teeth · sickularism · dogsick · heartsick · sick building syndrome · fall sick · heatsick · iron sick · junk-sick · sick nurse · dope sick · turnsick · schoolsick · sick as a cat · sickular · thoughtsick · sick-wagon · sickless · unsick · tobacco-sick · guilt-sick · carsick · junk sick · worry someone sick · sick unto death · sickie · be taken sick · call in sick · sick at heart · sick burn · sicken · sick bay · white-sick · sickhouse · sick-abed · sick and twisted · lungsick · sicknurse · sick building · brainsick · sicky · cropsick · sick-ass · sick headache · sickroom · melt-sick · call out sick · sick bag · never sick at sea · sickee · permasick · I'm sick · sicko · sickbed · sickening · seasick · sickly · euthyroid sick syndrome · get sick · out sick · black-sick · nailsick · sick ass · sick man of Asia · sick leave · sick to one's stomach · sick sinus syndrome · sickness · sick as a dog · bussick · iron-sick · sickish · ironsick · sick puppy · soulsick · nail sick · sick man of East Asia · sicknik · sick man of Europe · sick and tired · saddle-sick · spacesick · sick man · sick as a parrot · sickbay · take sick · sick person · turn-sick · fancy-sick · sick office syndrome · sick parade · sick pay · sick call · sicc · lung sick · homesick · sick as a horse · altitude-sick · roe-sick · greensick · sick note · pornsick
Descendants
sik · sik · siki · sik · சீக்கு · sick · sxih
Synonyms
divine · def · stellar · infected · lit · magnificent · grouse · out of sight · pukey · exquisite · rad · bomb · top-shelf · morbific · sick to one's stomach · bang-up · bully · nauseated · frabjous · superior · poorly · cushty · cock on · poggers · great · goated · top-notch · admirable · extraordinary · topping · tubular · top · crackerjack · rad · peak · beneship · phat · twisted · mawkish · slap-up · morbose · pukka · bang on · phenomenal · infected · diseased · fab · rum · top-drawer · lautitious · awe-inspiring · superb · unwell · delightful · killer · exceptional · quality · infect · outstanding · tight · sickly · priceless · radical · commendable · barfy · diseased · nauseated · spot on · marvelous · incredible · unhealthy · tuff · glorious · pukish · bitching · amazing · sensational · warped · awesome · impeccable · remarkable · sick · infect · peng · sterling · epic · poorly · wicked · heavenlike · unhealthy · cher · heavenly · top-of-the-range · based · wonderful · broyal · fierce · swell · not well · worldie · sickly · fireball · dank · fire · fantabulosa · copacetic · ill · fabulous · nauseatic · celestial · fly · blissful · terrific · ace · choice · stunning · disease-ridden · sick · well-done · fantastic · excellent · immaculate · sweet · kick-ass · splendid · badass · unwell · disease-ridden · morbid · disturbed · dope · spiffing · beatific · vomity · queasy · gnarly · super · brilliant · kicking · ill · first-rate · cool · morbid · chur · not well · wicked · chronic · pog · nang · exemplary · finger-lickin' good · studly · top-hole · spectacular · lash · morbose · morbific · wicked pissah · slick
Translations (118)
pt louco (slang: very good, excellent) · sv sjuk (colloquial: in bad taste) · sv sjuk (slang: very good, excellent) · sv illamående (having an urge to vomit) · hu dögös (slang: very good, excellent) · sv sjuk (having an urge to vomit) · de sick (slang: very good, excellent) · pt irado (slang: very good, excellent) · hu beteges (colloquial: in bad taste) · lv sirdzējs (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · da syg (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · cmn 牛屄 (slang: very good, excellent) · fr nauséeuse (having an urge to vomit) · no syke (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · uk хво́рий (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · hu király (slang: very good, excellent) · hu rosszul van (having an urge to vomit) · fi huonossa kunnossa (in poor condition) · hu leromlott (in poor condition) · gl enfermos (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · cmn 想吐 (having an urge to vomit) · da syge (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · de leid (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · de krass (slang: very good, excellent) · es harto (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · fr les malades (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · es cagante (slang: very good, excellent) · fi kova (slang: very good, excellent) · pt animal (slang: very good, excellent) · cmn 過癮 /过瘾 (slang: very good, excellent) · af gatvol (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · fi kyllästynyt (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · fi kehnossa kunnossa (in poor condition) · fr nauséeux (having an urge to vomit) · nl misselijk (having an urge to vomit) · el άρρωστος (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · de es satthaben (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · pt doentes (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · bg бо́лен (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · hu lerobbant (in poor condition) · hu hányingere van (having an urge to vomit) · hu felfordul a gyomra (tőle) (having an urge to vomit) · nv sxih (slang: very good, excellent) · nl zieke (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · th เจ๋ง (slang: very good, excellent) · pt enfermos (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · da syg (slang: very good, excellent) · ckb نەخۆش (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · sv trött (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · de übel (in poor condition) · ga bréan (de) (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · ja ヤバい (slang: very good, excellent) · de fett (slang: very good, excellent) · de krank (colloquial: in bad taste) · la aegri (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · lv slimīgs (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · hu baró (slang: very good, excellent) · de geisteskrank (slang: very good, excellent) · fr en avoir marre (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · hu beteg (colloquial: in bad taste) · hu elege van (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · fr de malade (slang: very good, excellent) · cmn 絕了 /绝了 (slang: very good, excellent) · fi siisti (slang: very good, excellent) · hu silány (in poor condition) · eo malsanulo (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · hu zakkant (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · de geil (slang: very good, excellent) · hu gyatra (in poor condition) · fi sairas (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · el αρρωστημένος (colloquial: in bad taste) · hu kúl (slang: very good, excellent) · fi sairas (colloquial: in bad taste) · ro mișto (slang: very good, excellent) · fi kuvottava (colloquial: in bad taste) · fr lourd (slang: very good, excellent) · fi päheä (slang: very good, excellent) · hu perverz (colloquial: in bad taste) · hu ócska (in poor condition) · cmn 屌 (slang: very good, excellent) · bg болен (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · hu émelyeg (having an urge to vomit) · hu gyenge (in poor condition) · ga masmas a bheith ort (having an urge to vomit) · da syg (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · hu vagány (slang: very good, excellent) · ru больно́й (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · fi huonokuntoinen (in poor condition) · hu zsír (slang: very good, excellent) · de krank (slang: very good, excellent) · fi makea (slang: very good, excellent) · es mareado (having an urge to vomit) · fr chanmé (slang: very good, excellent) · sv sjuka (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · fr malade (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · gl doentes (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · fi sairaat (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · ka ავადმყოფი (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · pt enjoado (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · hu hibbant (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · sv sjuk (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · hu elromlott (in poor condition) · sv må illa (having an urge to vomit) · nl zieken (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · ca fart (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · hu torkig van (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · it gli ammalati (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · hu agyament (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · hi अस्वस्थ (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · af keelvol (tired (of), annoyed (by)) · fi oksettaa (having an urge to vomit) · hu menő (slang: very good, excellent) · el νοσηρός (colloquial: in bad taste) · ms pesakit (ill, used as a substantive: sick people, collectively) · de übel (colloquial: in bad taste) · fi hullu (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · de durch den Wind (colloquial: mentally unstable, disturbed) · it stufo (tired (of), annoyed (by))