Ail (āl), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Ailed (āld); p. pr. & vb. n.Ailing.] [OE. eilen, ailen, AS. eglan to trouble, pain; akin to Goth. us-agljan to distress, agls troublesome, irksome, aglo, aglitha, pain, and prob. to E. awe. √3.] To affect with pain or uneasiness, either physical or mental; to trouble; to be the matter with; — used to express some uneasiness or affection, whose cause is unknown; as, what ails the man? I know not what ails him.
What aileth thee, Hagar?
Gen. xxi. 17.
☞ It is never used to express a specific disease. We do not say, a fever ails him; but, something ails him.