evil eye
UK /ˌiːvl̩‿ˈaɪ/ · US /ˌiv(ə)l̩‿ˈaɪ/ noun
Forms evil eyes
- noun A wicked look conveying dislike or envy that in many cultures is believed to be able to cause bad luck or injury; also, the ability to cause bad luck or injury through such a look, supposed to be possessed by some people. “an amulet to protect children from the evil eye.”
- noun The charm used to ward off the evil eye; a nazar.
- noun (often humorous) A look conveying disapproval, envy, hostility, etc.
Synonyms
bad eye evils eye malocchio stink eye see others there side-eye
Etymology
From Middle English ivel eie (“evil eye; envy”), from Old English eage yfel, a calque of Latin oculus malus, from oculus (“eye”) + malus (“bad, evil, wicked; destructive, hurtful, injurious; unfavourable, unlucky”).
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “evil eye”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details