bad

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Of poor quality, or not good in some way.

   He got a bad report card this term.

2. 2
   adj

   Morally wrong or wicked.

   In the story, the bad king treated his people cruelly.

3. 3
   adj

   Not working properly; faulty.

   We couldn't hear each other because of the bad phone connection.

4. 4
   adj

   No longer fresh or safe to eat.

   Throw out the milk if it has gone bad.

5. 5
   adj

   Causing pain or feeling unwell.

   She has a bad back and can't lift heavy things.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Bad appeared in the 13th century, originally with two syllables, and its deeper origin is uncertain. That early pronunciation suggests it may be a shortened form of Old English bæddel, “effeminate man” or “hermaphrodite.” In late 19th-century Black American slang its meaning was reversed, and by the 1920s jazz enthusiasts were using bad approvingly to mean excellent.

From Middle English bad, badde (“wicked, evil, depraved”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a shortening of Old English bæddel (“hermaphrodite”) (for loss of -el compare Middle English muche from Old English myċel, and Middle English wenche from Old English wenċel), or at least related to it and/or to bǣ̆dan (“to defile”), compare Old High German pad (“hermaphrodite”). Alternatively, perhaps a loan from Old Norse into Middle English, compare Norwegian bad (“effort, trouble, fear”, neuter noun), East Danish bad (“damage, destruction, fight”, neuter noun), from the Proto-Germanic noun *badą, whence…

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External links

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