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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
English in UK
Iller, illest - incorrect, or just unidiomatic?
Yesterday I heard something which didn't sound right - a reference to "iller" patients in a radio programme about hospital funding. I would have said "sicker" instead. "Iller" and "illest" sound incorrect. The forms "more/most ill" sound more acceptable but I would still choose to avoid them. Are iller/illest/more ill/most ill simply unidiomatic, or are they incorrect?
Some dictionaries give the comparative and superlative of "ill" as "worse" and "worst", but I find them unsatisfactory - their meaning is too imprecise.
Some dictionaries give the comparative and superlative of "ill" as "worse" and "worst", but I find them unsatisfactory - their meaning is too imprecise.
Top answer
[/nq] Poorlier, poorliest? Or in a different context, more/most malign/evil.
- [/nq] Poorlier, poorliest?
- Or in a different context, more/most malign/evil.
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9 Answers
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[nq:1]Some dictionaries give the comparative and superlative of "ill" as "worse" and "worst", but I find them unsatisfactory - their meaning is too imprecise.[/nq]
Poorlier, poorliest?
Or in a different context, more/most malign/evil.
Poorlier, poorliest?
Or in a different context, more/most malign/evil.
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[nq:1]Yesterday I heard something which didn't sound right - a reference to "iller" patients in a radio programme about hospital funding. I would have said "sicker" instead. "Iller" and "illest" sound incorrect.[/nq]
Disgusting. 'Iller' and 'illest', though perfectly correct from a construction point of view, are not what we use for sicker and sickest, very ill or on death's door. I suggest yo
Disgusting. 'Iller' and 'illest', though perfectly correct from a construction point of view, are not what we use for sicker and sickest, very ill or on death's door. I suggest yo
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[nq:2]Yesterday I heard something which didn't sound right - a ... would have said "sicker" instead. "Iller" and "illest" sound incorrect.[/nq]
[nq:1]Disgusting. 'Iller' and 'illest', though perfectly correct from a construction point of view, are not what we use for sicker ... you buy a shotgun and shoot the person who uses these words. I would say 'ill, very ill/sicker, extremely ill/knacker
[nq:1]Disgusting. 'Iller' and 'illest', though perfectly correct from a construction point of view, are not what we use for sicker ... you buy a shotgun and shoot the person who uses these words. I would say 'ill, very ill/sicker, extremely ill/knacker
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[nq:2]Disgusting. 'Iller' and 'illest', though perfectly correct from a construction ... these words. I would say 'ill, very ill/sicker, extremely ill/knackered'[/nq]
[nq:1]A Google Web survey suggests that "sicker/sickest" are indeed the majority choice in the context of a group of patients. ... 50,400 "sicklier>sickliest patients" 16 "more>most ill patients" 596 "more>most sick pati
[nq:1]A Google Web survey suggests that "sicker/sickest" are indeed the majority choice in the context of a group of patients. ... 50,400 "sicklier>sickliest patients" 16 "more>most ill patients" 596 "more>most sick pati
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[nq:2]A Google Web survey suggests that "sicker/sickest" are indeed the ... patients" 256 "more>most unwell patients" 30 "more>most sickly patients" 23[/nq]
[nq:1]Since the normal use of "ill" is predicative not attributive, i.e. we say "he's ill" but not usually "an ill patient", this isn't exactly a good test of frequency of "iller" or "illest".[/nq]
Actually "ill" is very common a
[nq:1]Since the normal use of "ill" is predicative not attributive, i.e. we say "he's ill" but not usually "an ill patient", this isn't exactly a good test of frequency of "iller" or "illest".[/nq]
Actually "ill" is very common a
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[nq:1]I also have no doubt that "sick" is much more common than "ill" because IIRC "ill" is rarely used in American English - and it's not that common in Irish English either.[/nq]
Interestingly, however, the OED says that the adverbial form "illy" is (or was) "chiefly U.S." and gives some examples such as "I could illy afford to lose it". A Google search for the phrase "illy afford" brings up
Interestingly, however, the OED says that the adverbial form "illy" is (or was) "chiefly U.S." and gives some examples such as "I could illy afford to lose it". A Google search for the phrase "illy afford" brings up
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[nq:2]I also have no doubt that "sick" is much more ... - and it's not that common in Irish English either.[/nq]
[nq:1]Interestingly, however, the OED says that the adverbial form "illy" is (or was) "chiefly U.S." and gives some examples such ... ill afford" - but never "illy" ! I feel as if I should put a third "l" in "illy" ![/nq]
In Stoke, we use "illy" to refer to the Peak District.
[nq:1]Interestingly, however, the OED says that the adverbial form "illy" is (or was) "chiefly U.S." and gives some examples such ... ill afford" - but never "illy" ! I feel as if I should put a third "l" in "illy" ![/nq]
In Stoke, we use "illy" to refer to the Peak District.
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[nq:1]I feel as if I should put a third "l" in "illy" ![/nq]
That would be gilding the illy, silly!
http://www.dacha.freeuk.com/cook/20mc-0.htm
Making Curds
That would be gilding the illy, silly!
http://www.dacha.freeuk.com/cook/20mc-0.htm
Making Curds
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[nq:1]In Stoke, we use "illy" to refer to the Peak District.[/nq]
In the Peak District, we use "illy" to refer to a former Yorkshire cricketer. Not with any great affection, mind you.
In the Peak District, we use "illy" to refer to a former Yorkshire cricketer. Not with any great affection, mind you.
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