Definition of ailing

"Ailing" is a word of Old English origin, stemming from the verb "ēlan," meaning "to drive, force, or urge." Over time, "ēlan" took on the sense of "to cause pain or distress," and the past participle "ēled" became "ailing" around the 14th century. The shift in meaning likely reflects the understanding that illness often forces a person to slow down or stop their usual activities. This links the original sense of driving or urging to the feeling of being weakened or hindered by illness.