Read full poem →There Affectation, with a sickly mien,
Shows in her cheek the roses of eighteen;
Dictionary Entry
Often ill, weak, or pale; not healthy.
In a Sentence
“The sickly child was kept home from school to rest and recover.”
Origin
From Old English 'sēoc' meaning 'ill, diseased'.
Common Phrases
Still being gathered for this entry.
Missing dictionary details are being fetched in the background.
Poetry examples for “sickly”
Excerpts from the ReadingWillow English Library collection.
Read full poem →Bearing the liar’s curse upon my head;
Letting my weak and sickly heart be fed
On food which does the present craving stay,
Read full poem →We, discontented indeed with things in particular, idle,
Sickly, complaining, by faith, in the vision of things in general,
Manage to hold on our way without, like others around us,
Read full poem →The water lily with white petals and
A sickly perfume. But the sundew catches
The midges flitting by with rainbow wings,
Read full poem →(Better keep an eye out for you-know-who)
Did ever you see such a sickly showing?--
Middle of June, and nothing growing;
Read full poem →If e'er the sinking stage could condescend
To soothe the sickly taste it dare not mend--
All past reproach may present scenes refute, 60
Read full poem →There the pale artist plies the sickly trade;
Read full poem →Here, while the courtier glitters in brocade,
There the pale artist plies the sickly trade;
Here, while the proud their long-drawn pomps display,
Read full poem →Who break the crystal of a poet’s heart
That small and sickly eyes may glare and gloat.