Evil, subst. 1) any thing which impairs the happiness or perfection of a being: “better is by e. still made better,” Sonn. 119, 10. “my female e. tempteth my better angel from my side,” 144, 5. “our natures do pursue a thirsty e.” Meas. I, 2, 134. “no e. lost is wailed,” Err. IV, 2, 24. Mids. II, 1, 115. As II, 7, 132. H4B IV, 4, 78. Troil. I, 3, 319. Tim. III, 5, 36. Hml. V, 2, 70.
2) wickedness, depravity: “unstained thoughts do seldom dream on e.” Lucr. 87. “O unlooked-for e., when virtue is profaned in such a devil,” Lucr. 87 “ensconced his secret e.” Lucr. 87 “unless this general e. they maintain, all men are bad,” Sonn. 121, 13. Wiv. III, 5, 97. V, 2, 15. All's IV, 3, 321. Wint. I, 2, 303. H5 II, 2, 101. H6B III, 1, 73. H6B III, 1, 73.
3) injury, mischief: “we must do good against e.” All's II, 5, 53. “do good for e.” R3 I, 3, 335. “are you of good or e.?” Oth. V, 1, 65. cf. Caes. III, 2, 80. Lr. I, 1, 169. Hml. V, 2, 252.
4) moral offence, crime: “the dire thought of his committed e.” Lucr. 972. “cave-keeping --s,” Lucr. 972 “to do that e.” Meas. II, 2, 91. Meas. II, 2, 91 “I do repent me, as it is an e.” II, 3, 35. II, 4, 6. III, 2, 21. V, 117. V, 117 LLL IV, 3, 286. Merch. III, 2, 77. Wint. V, 1, 5. V, 3, 40. H4B V, 5, 71. R3 I, 2, 76. 78 (Ff crimes). III, 4, 69 (Qq this ill). Tit. V, 3, 186. Caes. II, 1, 79. Mcb. IV, 3, 57. Lr. V, 3, 156. Cymb. V, 5, 60. Per. I, 4, 104.
5) bad quality, imperfection, defect: “maintained so politic a state of e. that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them,” Ado V, 2, 63. “the principal --s that he laid to the charge of women,” As III, 2, 370. All's I, 1, 113. Mcb. IV, 3, 112. Oth. II, 3, 140. Oth. II, 3, 140 Ant. I, 4, 11.
6) disease: “all the embossed sores and headed --s,” As II, 7, 67.* “comforting your --s,” Wint. II, 3, 56. “--s that take leave,” John III, 4, 114. “would increase his e.” Cor. I, 1, 183. “'tis called the e.” Mcb. IV, 3, 146 (viz the King's Evil).
7) misfortune: “that I may bear my --s alone,” Tw. II, 1, 6. “to acquaint you with this e.” John V, 6, 25. “an ensuing e.” H8 II, 1, 141. “--s imminent,” Caes. II, 2, 81. “accidental --s,” IV, 3, 146. “too true an e.” Oth. I, 1, 161.
8) a privy, a draught house? At least it has been interpreted so in the following passages: “to raze the sanctuary and pitch our --s there,” Meas. II, 2, 172. “build their --s on the graves of men,” H8 II, 1, 67 (cf. 2 Kings 10, 27).
Shakespeare Lexicon. Alexander Schmidt. Berlin. Georg Reimer. 1902.
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