unhealthyadj.

Brit.

/(ˌ)ʌnˈhɛlθi/, U.S.

/ˌənˈhɛlθi/

Etymology: un- prefix¹ 1.

a. Of persons, etc.: Not possessed of good health; weak or sickly in health. Also absol.

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the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased

untrumc825

sickc888

unwholec888

slackc897

unstronga900

sicklea1000

sam-halea1023

worseOE

attaint1303

languishinga1325

heallessc1374

sicklyc1374

sicklewa1387

bada1393

mishalea1400

languoring?c1425

distempered1440

unwell?c1450

detent?a1475

poora1475

languorousc1475

maladif1481

illa1500

maladiousc1500

wanthriven1508

attainted1509

unsound1513

acrazed1521

cracked1527

unsoundya1529

visited1537

infirmed1552

crazed1555

healthless1568

ill-liking1572

afflicted1574

crazy1576

unhealthful1580

sickish1581

valetudinary1581

not well1587

fainty1590

ill-disposed1596

unhealthsome1598

tainted1600

ill-affected1604

peaking1611

unhealthy1611

infirmited1616

disaffected1626

physical1633

illish1637

pimping1640

invalid1642

misaffected1645

valetudinarious1648

unhale1653

badly1654

unwholesome1655

valetudinous1655

morbulent1656

off the hooksa1658

mawkish1668

morbid1668

unthriven1680

unsane1690

ailing1716

not wellish1737

underlya1742

poorly1750

indifferent1753

comical1755

maladized1790

sober1808

sickened1815

broken-down1816

peaky1821

poorlyish1827

souffrante1827

run-down1831

sicklied1835

addle1844

shaky1844

mean1845

dauncy1846

stricken1846

peakyish1853

po'ly1860

pindling1861

rough1882

rocky1883

suffering1885

wabbit1895

icky-boo1920

like death warmed up1924

icky1938

ropy1945

crappy1956

hanging1971

sick as a parrot1982

shite1987

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Mal-sain,..sicklie, crazie, vnhealthie.

1813 J. Thomson Lect. Inflammation 424 When they exceed this, and take on a growing disposition, they are then unhealthy.

1825 T. Hook Sayings & Doings 2nd Ser. II. 61 A watering-place, one of the most fashionable resorts for the idle and unhealthy.

b. Pathology. Not in a sound or healthy condition; diseased, morbid.

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1862 A. Meadows Man. Midwifery v. ii. 181 They are apt to take on afterwards unhealthy inflammation.

1877 W. Roberts Spontaneous Generation 22 We know that when a wound becomes unhealthy, as surgeons term it, the discharges become offensive.

a. Of places, climate, etc.: Prejudicial or hurtful to health; insalubrious; unwholesome.

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the world > health and disease > ill health > insalubrity > [adjective]

evilc1000

unsete1387

pestilenta1398

pestilentiala1398

unhealfulc1400

unthendec1425

unsetyc1440

unwholesomec1455

ill1488

pestifere1490

contagious1495

infectious1534

pestiferous1538

unhealthsome1544

unkindlyc1570

deletery1576

deleterious1587

bad1589

unhealthful1598

unsound1598

unhealthy1600

sickly1604

deleterial1621

tetrous1637

insalubrious1638

unseasoned1638

cankered1645

healthless1650

insalutary1694

maliferous1727

insanous1742

unsalubrious1781

unsanitary1872

insanitary1874

devitalizing1875

antihygienic1876

unhygienic1883

unhealthy-looking1890

1600 in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) III. 587 The towne was situated in a waterie soile,..very vnhealthy as any place in the Indies.

1616 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals II. i. 21 Then mists from Marishes,..From standing Pooles and Fens were following Vnhealthy fogs.

1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge 72 The opposite Shore,..cover'd with unhealthy Ooze and Filth.

1740 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. i. 275 That very unhealthy and dangerous climate.

1806 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 15 17 It was now the most unhealthy season of the year.

1827 W. Scott Chron. Canongate 1st Ser. I. iv. 59 There never was a trade so unhealthy yet, but men would fight to get wark at it.

1884 in Cawston Street Improv. London (1893) 108 We bought shops and warehouses on just the same terms as we bought unhealthy dwellings.

b. Military slang. Dangerous.

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the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > [adjective]

plightlyOE

wothea1300

perilousc1300

wickeda1375

plightfula1400

dreadfulc1400

parlous?a1425

shrewd1482

danger1488

dangerous1490

periculous1533

dangerful1548

dangersome1567

craggy1582

perilsome1593

endangering1601

unsafe1621

imperilous1645

ugly1654

warm1726

neck-break1756

wanchancy1768

uncanny1785

unchancy1786

nasty1828

unhealthy1915

windy1919

1915 A. D. Gillespie Let. 6 Aug. in Lett. from Flanders (1916) 266 All this place is ‘out of bounds’ to the troops, for it must be an unhealthy corner when shells are falling.

1930 E. Raymond Jesting Army i. vi. 93 The Gully Ravine..was now ‘unhealthy’: it was being sprinkled with shrapnel bullets.

3. figurative. (See healthy adj. 3.)

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the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [adjective]

sickc960

foulOE

unwholec1000

thewlessa1327

corrupt1340

viciousc1340

unwholesomec1374

infecta1387

rustyc1390

unsound?a1400

rottenc1400

rotten-heartedc1405

cankereda1450

infectedc1449

wasted1483

depravate?1520

poisoned1529

deformed1555

poisonous1555

reprobate1557

corrupted1563

prave1564

base-minded1573

tainted1577

Gomorrhean1581

vice-like1589

depraved1593

debauched1598

deboshedc1598

tarish1601

sunk1602

speckled1603

deboist1604

diseased1608

ulcerous1611

vitial1614

debauchc1616

deboise1632

pravous1653

depravea1711

unhealthy1821

scrofulous1842

septic1914

1821 C. Lamb in London Mag. Aug. 152/1 I do feel the differences of mankind, national or individual, to an unhealthy excess.

1849 W. S. Mayo Kaloolah (1850) v. 39 He had set himself..against what his good sense led him to pronounce an unhealthy..excitement.

Compounds

unhealthy-looking adj.

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