i Register
In some senses, sickly is marked as archaic, literary, rare. Watch for register when choosing this word.
sickly
/ˈsɪkli/
adj 5verb 2adv 1
Collocations
5ADJ.
dull, old, pale, pale, scattered
VERB + SICKLY
cough, gave, looked, looking, looks
SICKLY + NOUN
boy, brother, child, constitution, lad, odor
PREP.
after, off
ADV.
somewhat, unfortunately
Definitions
adj
1
Frequently ill or in poor health; weakly.
a sickly child
1759, Tobias Smollett, letter dated 16 March, 1759, in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, Volume 1, p. 190, … the boy is a sickly lad, of a delicate frame, and particularly subject to a malady in his throat, which renders him very unfit for his Majesty’s service.
2
Not in good health; (somewhat) sick.
Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, For he went sickly forth:
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep [i.e. have died].
3
Characterized by poor or unhealthy growth. (of a plant)
[...] the good wheat on this land had turned sickly and yellow.
With the aid of the marigolds the roses flourished; in the control beds they were sickly and drooping.
4
Appearing ill, infirm or unhealthy; giving the appearance of illness.
a sickly pallor
1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, London: T. Payne and Son, and T. Cadell, Volume 1, Book 1, Chapter 9, p. 121, … she exhibited a countenance so wretched, and a complection so sickly, that Cecilia was impressed with horror at the sight.
5
Shedding a relatively small amount of light; (of light) not very bright.
The Moon grows sickly at the sight of day.
Night, and all her sickly dews, Her Spectres wan, and Birds of boding cry,
verb
1
To make (something) sickly.
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
Thy Drudge contrives, and in our full career Sicklies our hopes with the pale hue of Fear;
2
To become sickly.
1889, Samuel Cox, An Expositor’s Notebook, London: Richard D. Dickinson, 7th edition, Chapter 26, p. 364, But the seven most prominent Apostles […] still hang together, their hearts tormented with eager yet sad questionings, their hopes fast sicklying over with the pale hues of doubt.
adv
1
In a sick manner; in a way that reflects or causes sickness.
sickly pale; to cough sickly
[…] he sickly guess’d How lone he was once more, and sadly press’d His empty arms together […]
Thesaurus
Synonyms
adjective — unhealthy looking
adjective — somewhat ill or prone to illness
- ailing
- indisposed
- unwell
- seedy
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
a sickly child
Wiktionary02
1759, Tobias Smollett, letter dated 16 March, 1759, in James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, London: Charles Dilly, 1791, Volume 1, p. 190, … the boy is a sickly lad, of a delicate frame, and par
Wiktionary03
She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not otherwise have failed of;
Wiktionary04
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
Wiktionary05
Thy Drudge contrives, and in our full career Sicklies our hopes with the pale hue of Fear;
Wiktionary06
[…]a cancer gnawing at the root of happiness, defeating every aim at permanent good in this world, and sicklying all sublunary joys[…]
WiktionaryUsage Notes
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